A council leader says he will continue to fight "tooth and nail" to save a community centre.

Morris Bright's comments come following a debate which has been raised in recent weeks about where a new primary school in Borehamwood should be built.

Hertfordshire County Council has identified the need to build a new school in the town and Maxwell Park, which councillors fought to save in 2013 and 2014, is still on the list of possible development.

However, separate planning applications are in place to build 58 homes and a primary school in green belt land off Potters Lane on the edge of Borehamwood.

Borehamwood Times:

If permission is granted for these houses, land will be gifted by Wrotham Park Estates to build a "state of the art primary school" next to the new Hertswood Academy. But if permission for one of the applications is rejected, and the decision will be made on planning merits only, then neither will go through.

Cllr Bright, leader of Hertsmere Borough Council, said he and his colleagues are supportive of the Potters Lane application so that Maxwell Park does not get developed but also because the location allows for a "state of the art" facility.

He said: "Our children deserve state of the art educational facilities. This land can provide playing fields and be a feeder to Hertswood which will have excellent sports facilities and a theatre.

"All parties fought tooth and nail to save Maxwell Park before and we would again. Maxwell Park doesn't even have space for a playing field."

Borehamwood Times:

Campaigners in Potters Lane have raised concerns that they don't believe the infrastructure is in place to support 58 houses and a primary school. 

Likewise, people have spoken about how "important" Maxwell Park is to the people of Borehamwood.

But Cllr Bright said: "As long as concerns, which are fair, of those in Potters Lane can be reasonably addressed, I would be happy to support any application to build a new school that we need for children in Borehamwood and that will save Maxwell Park."

Councils across the country are under pressure from central government to build thousands of schools and naturally, the need for school places follows.

Cllr Bright added: "We are not ignoring our town and communities. 

"We will discuss how we will plan for future homes and school places in Borehamwood and be part of the solution to some of the big issues facing our area."

Read more: Debate rages on over new primary school site