A primary school is set to retain most of a field following successful negotiations between the county council and the new landowners.

Hertfordshire County Council has confirmed in a statement to the Times that it is set to take on a new lease at Shenley Primary School.

In June, it emerged that around a third of the privately-owned school field had been sold to two neighbours - one of whom was the chairman of Shenley Parish Council, Councillor William Susman.

When a fence was erected on the field, angry parents and school governors marched down to the school on a Saturday demanding the contractors stopped building the fence.

The work was stopped, and since then, discussions have been held between the school, the new buyers, and the county council over the future of the land.

During that time, the school has retained the whole of the school field, including the newly purchased land, which includes a community-fundraised sculpture and an outdoor learning centre.

Borehamwood Times:

Protesters at Shenley Primary School in June

Today, the county council issued the following statement about where it is in its negotiations.

A spokesperson said: "Negotiations have progressed with both homeowners for a new lease for each portion of land that they have recently acquired.

"Terms for the leases have been agreed and issued to solicitors so that formal legal documents can be drawn up, but remain subject to contract at this stage.

"One of the homeowners has made available the whole of the area they purchased for lease to the school.

"The other has allocated half of their land for lease as school playing field use."

It is understood Cllr Susman is the buyer who has made all of their land available.

The county council says it cannot disclose the full terms of the lease until all of the papers have been signed.

Borehamwood Times:

Cllr Susman speaking with protesters in June. Credit: Simon Jacobs

The private land in question had been leased by the the county council for primary school use since 1999, but the lease came to an end in 2019.

The county council has said it made an offer to secure the freehold of the land, which is currently used by the school as an outdoor learning space, in June last year, but the offer was rejected.

The council says it made a final offer in January this year, but learnt the following month that the land had been sold to Cllr Susman and Nikolai Levey whose homes back onto the school field.

Read more: Parish councillor resigned following school field sale

Read more: Protest takes place at school after field sale

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