A new primary school for the town is a step closer after a local group proposing a free school won through to the interview stage.

Leader of the group, Karen Barry, commented:"We firmly believe that the focus of the Hertford Free School must be on our children, in helping them reach their full, individual potential in a happy, productive atmosphere. Receiving confirmation from the Department for Education that the bid for Hertford Free School has got through to interview stage was great news for all of us.”

The school would address a serious shortage of primary places in the east of the town and would offer two forms for children of 4-11.

The next stage of the process takes place on 8th April.

A group of Hertford parents are planning to establish a free school in the town to address the acute shortage of primary school places in the town.

Free schools are state-funded independent schools run by charitable trusts. They set their own curriculum and term dates.

The new school expects to offer two reception classes (60 children) from 2014. A location for the school has not yet been identified.

www.hertfordfreeschool.co.uk

Two of Herford's schools are set to become academies, giving them independence from the local education authority.

Sele School in Welwyn Road and Richard Hale School in Hale Road have both applied to become academies, which allows them to attract sponsorship whilst being funded by central government. Academy status also allows schools to set their own rates of pay for staff as well as giving them greater control over the school's curriculum.

A waste site and skip yard in Mead Lane is set to relocate if planners give the go-ahead.

J.Bridgeman and Sons have submitted a planning application to move to premises adjacent to Matthews Haulage at 71 Mead Lane.

The proposed move follows a retrospective planning application that was granted in April 2010, with the condition that operations cease by the end of October 2011.

The company employs ten people and primarily handles waste from construction, demolition and excavation.

Town Clerk Nina Villa has attacked the closure of Hertford's Urgent Care Centre, claiming that the criteria for judging the centre's success was flawed.

The Town Clerk was part of an evaluation panel that recommended closure in February. The panel also included Town Council leader Linda Radford and Cllr.Dorothy Hone.

Ms.Villa claims that targets set by health bosses were unrealistic but that the panel were given no alternative but to use them.

In a letter to The Hertfodrshire Mercury, she says that she remains absolutely opposed to the closure, despite having no choice other than to agree that the centre did not meet the flawed pre-existing criteria.

Concrete block have been placed at the entrance to Archers Spring in the latest attempt to stop bikers using the site.

Residents of Bentley Road have been plagued by the nuisance bikers for many years, despite various attempts at stopping them from getting on to the site.

The land was flattened in 2009 to try to make the site less appealing to bikers.

However, the new blocks have also failed to prevent bikers accessing the site as they have just knocked down adjacent fencng to get around the barriers.

The Urgent Care Centre at Hertford County Hospital could be closed following recommendations by NHS Hertfordshire.

An evaluation panel has decided that the centre has not fulfilled it's brief, despite being visited by up to 700 people a week.

The centre opened in 2009 to treat injuries or conditions that are severe but not immediately critical or life threatening. This includes injuries and treatment for wounds, sprains and minor fractures.

Initially the centre was little used, but following publicity attendance jumped.

The evaluation panel however have concluded that the centre is being misused. People are attending the centre when they only require a visit to the GP. Others should have been using A&E departments at larger hospitals such as the QEII at Welwyn Garden City or The Lister at Stevenage.

A formal report is due to be presented to NHS Hertfordshire on 23rd March.

Skaters at the Hertford skatepark have started a Facebook group in support of floodlighting at the Hartham facility.

The group currently has 163 members, with one suggesting that technical specifications and costs be drawn up to present to the council.

A collection point for antiviral drugs has opened in The River Room at Castle Hall.



The collection facility is the third in the County and is staffed by Primary Care Trust personnel and District Council employees.

The centre is dispensing prescriptions for anti-swine flu drugs between the hours of 10am and 4pm.