More than 200 concerned parents attended a public meeting about a new secondary school in Harpenden.

Harpenden Parents Group (HPG) hosted the Q&A session last week regarding issues concerning secondary school places in Harpenden.

At the meeting the Harpenden Secondary Education Trust revealed that while support for the building of a new secondary school in the town is growing, 34 signatures from parents of current year three and four students are still needed to ensure the new school is considered.

Representatives from Hertfordshire County Council attended the meeting and revealed that up to 80 children each year may be allocated places in St Albans schools in 2015 and 2016 due to the shortfall in secondary school places.

The county council’s figures forecast an even greater shortfall of 112 places in Harpenden and 62 places in St Albans in 2017.

Ben Bardsley, chair of HPG said: “The meeting was a great opportunity to hear more about these very crucial secondary education issues directly from the county council, local councillors and Harpenden Secondary Education Trust.

“Unfortunately, parents did not get all the answers they wanted to hear, especially about places in 2015 and 2016. We urge all parents from Harpenden and the surrounding villages to pledge their support for the new school by signing the petition. This will help ensure that the school is not derailed at the first hurdle.”

To view the petition visit: http://www.harpendensecondaryfreeschool.org/ before October 10.