AN agreement to save a £130million investment in education in Colchester is set to be reached tonight.

Officials have been searching for a suitable route for an access road at the Philip Morant secondary school for the past month.

The talks between Colchester Council, Essex County Council, school governors and community groups follow an agreement by Colchester Council’s coalition cabinet in December to let the secondary school have an access road.

Philip Morant’s plans to build the road over land known as “The Green” had sparked major opposition from nearby residents.

But the school said it would not be able to take part in a reorganisation of the town’s secondary schools, on which the £130million of Government funding is based, without it.

The Gazette understands a compromise alternative route, through former allotment land to the east of the green, is due to be agreed tonight.

Ann Wain, executive director at Colchester Council, said: “A series of meetings with all parties (school, residents’ associations and council officers) has been very positive, with a lot of compromise on all sides.

“There is another planned meeting tonight, where it is hoped we can agree the way forward, which will help to deliver the cabinet’s decision.”

Michael Page, a spokesman for Essex County Council, said discussions were ongoing.

He added: “However, we are hopeful they will be resolved to the satisfaction of all parties, which will start the process of bringing much-needed investment into Colchester’s schools.”

The cabinet agreement would have seen the road built on “The Green” if no alternative had been found. But any deal would be rescinded if the £130million was not forthcoming.

Essex County Council is to close Alderman Blaxill and Thomas Lord Audley schools and expand or rebuild other secondary schools in the borough, including Philip Morant.