WORK to build a new 420-place primary school in the borough's green belt is set to start in February next year, the Mirror can reveal.
As plans for the site in Battlebridge Lane, Merstham, went on public display for the first time last week, many parents were left with questions unanswered.
But, in an open exchange with the Mirror on Tuesday, Surrey County Council finally confirmed that:
A planning application for the new school should be submitted by July and a decision made by November
Construction should start in February/March 2014 and be completed by March 2015
The running track currently on site WILL remain open to the public, with no plans to fence off any of the nearby recreation ground
Other locations considered for the school will be revealed as part of the planning process.
The new school – due to be called Lime Tree and run as an academy – is needed to tackle a desperate shortage of school places across the borough.
But as dozens of concerned parents crowded into Reigate's Royal Albert and Alexandra School to view the plans for the first time last week, one of the major concerns was for the future of the Battlebridge recreation ground, used by Redhill Town Football Club and Reigate Priory Athletic Club.
Members of both teams rubbished a suggestion that the running track and sports pitch should be fenced off to protect pupils.
Janet Creighton, secretary of Redhill Town FC, said: "We'll still be using the pitch next season and after that. As far as the football club are concerned all we hope is in time the whole area will be upgraded for the whole community."
Sarah Healy, from the athletic club, added: "We've not heard anything from the council. We'd love to have the field upgraded but we would still want access to it."
"The school shouldn't be there at all," added 38-year-old care home manager Andrew Lewis. "It's our park and I want to know what other sites they've been looking at in more detail."
Head teacher Jo Newton, who will run Lime Tree out of the former Sandcross School site in Reigate from September until the facility is built, said: "We're working with Surrey County Council at the moment to look how we could share the use of that land. We're looking to have an arrangement for certain times for supervised activities in that area. For example taking the juniors for a football match or sports days."
On Tuesday, county council spokeswoman Joy Ridley confirmed the running track will remain open to the public, with no area of the recreation ground fenced off. "The only school use of the recreation ground is as a formal sports pitch and protection of pupils will be through supervision," she added. "Informal soft play is provided on the school building site and within the protection of boundary fencing."
She also said the council had now agreed terms with landowners the Diocese of Southwark, but contracts will not be exchanged until planning permission has been secured.
Finally, she said issues raised by parents at last week's exhibition over school-run traffic and other sites considered will be addressed during the planning process.
According to council officers, no parking spaces have been included in the plans because it's hoped children will walk to school.
London Road South resident Gordon Loader, 75, said: "They say they've looked at all the different sites and this was the most suitable. How can it be the most suitable when the basic provisions aren't there."
A Fairhaven Road resident added: "We're all against this. They want to go down to that junction at 8.30 in the morning and see what it would be like for children trying to cross there with all the traffic. It's very dangerous."
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