THREE schools could be built on fields in north Colchester.

Essex County Council needs a secondary and one or two primary schools to cope with 2,200 new homes planned in Mile End.

It has come up with four sites for a secondary school and three for primary schools.

A report says the preferred site of the secondary school is in Nayland Road, near Colchester Golf Club.

Another suggested site is on land south of the A12, a third on part of the golf course and the fourth on a field off Mile End Road.

Suggested sites for a primary school include a field off Mile End Road, on land south east of the golf course and on land south of the A12.

Martin Goss, Mile End ward councillor, said there would have to be one primary school with 840 pupils, or two with 420 each.

He said: “The county council needs to urgently make a decision on secondary school allocation in north Colchester because we are fast running out of spaces.

“Capacity in north Colchester is clearly reaching boiling point and we need to make a decision on whether a secondary school will be built or not, and if we are, let’s get on with it.”

Colchester MP Bob Russell supports the idea of more schools in the north of the town.

He said: “We know the failure of forward planning by Essex County Council means there is a shortage of primary school places in many parts of Colchester.

“In five or six years’ time, if they take another secondary school out of the system elsewhere in the town, there will be a shortage of those.

“Wherever possible, we need to provide schools where they are needed so we reduce the need for people to clog up the roads driving from one end of town to the other.”

Separate to these proposals is a £6million primary school on the former Severalls Hospital site, due to be developed with 1,500 homes.

David Clouston, of Love Myland campaign group, said 1,500 homes planned for the former Severalls will cause a squeeze for spaces.

He added: “Whatever gets built on Severalls will be before a new secondary school is built and those pupils’ nearest school will be the Gilberd in High Woods, but the Gilberd is full.”

Anne Turrell, Colchester Council leader and Mile End councillor, said: “Essex County Council and Colchester Council are stil working on information and we have since consulted with local people, which will inform us further.”

A planning application for 2,200 homes in Mile End is due to be submitted next year.