WORK on one of the largest new schools' developments in Northumberland is now under way – with the official cutting of the first turf at the site in Hexham this week.

After years of campaigning by the local community, Hexham’s Queen Elizabeth High School looks set to be operating from state-of-the-art new buildings from next September.

It will be joined on the redeveloped site off Whetstone Bridge Road by the relocated Hexham Middle School as the scheme forms part of a £158m investment in schools across the county by Northumberland County Council.

It’s no secret that west Northumberland has been crying out for this investment in education for decades, so the significance of this moment must not be overlooked.

Deputy leader of the council and cabinet member for children’s services, Coun. Wayne Daley, has also acknowledged that the long overdue £36.1m project will mean, finally, ‘resources can be focused on educating our children and young people, and not on maintaining ageing buildings’.

Coun. Daley also said he believed the project would 'create inspiring learning environments for students from Hexham and surrounding communities for years to come’.

Despite dedicating an additional £400,000 to sustainability measures to help the new buildings achieve an EPC A rating, what still remains unclear is how the council will allay fears over the road safety and pollution implications of uniting two schools together on one site.

While there is clearly much to celebrate about the project, voices of objection and concern continue to ring out loud and clear from some corners of the local community.

The proposed future use of the current Hexham Middle School site on Wanless Lane must also be clarified to ensure those who currently use and live near the site are kept fully informed.