Site of new school confirmed but opening could be further delayed

CHARD’S new primary school will be delivered next to the town’s existing secondary school, Somerset Council has confirmed.

- DANIEL MUMBY Local democracy journalist

‘The Chard eastern development area (CEDA), which lies between the A358 Tatworth Road and the A30 Crewkerne Road, was originally earmarked to deliver at least 2,700 new homes, along with 17 hectares of employment land and two new primary schools.

Progress on delivering homes within the CEDA has been slowed by numerous factors, including the ongoing phosphates crisis - which has in turn pushed back the delivery of the much-needed eastern relief road (ERR) and any new schools in the town.

Somerset Council stated in March that it intended to provide the town with a new primary school by September 2027 - but did not confirm where such a school would be delivered.

Officers have now revealed that they intend to deliver the new primary school next to Holyrood Academy - and that its opening date may slip further back.