EDUCATION chiefs say Colchester Council needs to find potential sites for a secondary school in north Colchester.

The authority is asking for people’s thoughts on what should be built alongside at least 2,200 homes on 110 hectares in the Mile End area.

Town hall planners have already identified sites for a primary school, shops, a neighbourhood centre and other community facilities.

But the only suggested site for a secondary school is the Mile End Playing Fields, off Ford’s Lane.

Anne Turrell, council leader and Mile End councillor, has ruled out any building on the fields and is trying to protect the land by putting the acres into a trust.

In response, Essex County Council said schools must be as close as possible to where the children going there live.

The nearest secondary schools for Mile End youngsters are St Helena near the town centre and the Gilberd School, in High Woods.

Its report states: “It is, therefore, recommended Colchester Council supplies the county council with some appropriate secondary school sites in the Northern Growth Area.”

Michael Page, Essex County Council spokesman, said no decision had been made as to whether a secondary school was needed for north Colchester.

He said: “Essex County Council is working with Colchester Council to ensure any new houses that are built will have adequate education provision.

“Until firm proposals are put forward, Essex County Council is unable to confirm what extra schooling will be needed for the area.”

David Clouston, from the Love Myland campaign, said he would support a secondary school, especially if it meant fewer homes would be built on the land.

He said: “If a development goes ahead, we have got to have facilities, and if one of the facilities was a secondary school, we would be delighted.

“If a school was here instead of many hundreds of houses, that would be a really good thing in some ways.”

No one from Colchester Council was available for comment.