HOME Secretary Priti Patel left the rigours of Government behind her when she visited Stanway to officially open a new school.

The Witham MP cut the ribbon to open Lakelands Primary School after coronavirus caused delays to its completion by almost a year.

The new school, which has a roll of 420 pupils and cost £6.5 million to construct, had been due to open in September 2020.

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Ms Patel said: “I am pleased to have finally opened the school after so many postponements due to Covid. I am always particularly delighted to see new schools opening in my constituency.”

The opening ceremony was also attended by numerous individuals who were key to the building and organisation of the new school.

Paul Banks, chief executive of Chelmsford Learning Partnership, Ruth Bird, chairwoman of trustees, Roger Blundell, chairman of governors, and Kevin Bentley, leader of Essex County Council were also in attendance.

Ms Patel was then given a tour of the school by head teacher Koulla Anslow.

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She said: “I am proud and privileged to have had the rare opportunity to create and then open a school from the beginning and to set the highest standards and expectations from day one.”

On the visit of Ms Patel, she added: “It was great pleasure to have Priti here and to be able to show her our facilities and some of the work our pupils have been doing as well as talk her through our plans for the future.

“I am also grateful to all of the other dignitaries who joined us for our opening and helped to make it extra special.”

Ms Patel also visited the privately-owned Oaks Hospital while she was in the area.

She was given a tour of the hospital in Mile End Road which provides specialist and private NHS healthcare treatment.

Ms Patel wanted to see the new facilities including the new static CT scanner at the hospital, which is part of the independent hospital operator group Ramsey Health Care.

Oaks Hospital includes four operating theatres fully equipped for wide range of surgery including routine and emergency procedures.

Ms Patel said the tour was “illuminating” and “fascinating”.

Chief executive officer of Ramsey Health Care UK Dr Andy Jones and hospital director Amy Simpson conducted the tour.

Dr Jones said: “It was great to have Priti here on site with us and we were pleased to be able to give her the full tour and to brief her on exactly what we do at Oaks Hospital.

“Our recent investment in the new CT scanner has been made to support our continued delivery of high-quality patient care to the community, including patients from the Witham constituency.”

The treatments provided by the hospital include cancer services, breast screening, general surgery, ear, noseand throat proceedures, gynaecology, dermatology, orthopaedics and physiotherapy.

Commenting after her visit, Ms Patel said: “It was a most illuminating tour and it was particularly fascinating to see the way the hospital has adopted new technology to enhance the treatments it offers.

“The new CT scanner is particularly impressive as was the general environment within the hospital.”