A LONG-awaited new secondary school in Colchester council open by September 2023 - although may be delayed longer.

Colchester's MP has provided an update on the delays to the construction of a new secondary school in the town after meeting with education bosses.

Earlier this month it was revealed contractor Laing O’Rourke Construction had pulled out of building Trinity School, which is set to be built at the Chesterwell development in Mile End.

The move has led to more delays for the long-awaited secondary school.

It was first due to open in 2019 but was delayed until 2021 and then January 2023.

However, it is now unlikely to open before September 2023 - or potentially even later.

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Conservative MP Will Quince met with executive headteachers Gillian Marshall and Linda Exley, of the Alpha Trust, to discuss the future of the school.

He said: “There is no question Laing O’Rourke has left the trust and Department for Education (DfE) in a difficult position.

“However, I have confidence the trust is doing all it can to work with the DfE to secure a new contractor who can adopt some of the plans instead of starting afresh and meaning that there is a possibility that the Trinity could open on the new site in September 2023.

“There are still a lot of ‘ifs’ here but I will continue to speak regularly with the school and DfE to check on progress and offer any support I can to expedite the build and opening of the new school.

“I know that we could not have two more experienced head teachers in Gillian and Linda leading on this project and I have full confidence in them.

“I also know the trust is working up contingency plans.”

Laing O’Rourke pulled out in late June saying “commercial viability” was no longer possible with the project.

From September the school’s first cohort of pupils will be taught on the site of The Gilberd, in Brinkley Lane, Highwoods, also run by the Alpha Trust.

The buildings will provide space for 240 pupils, with two intakes of 120 planned before Trinity School opens.

There will be eight teaching areas, toilets, group rooms and staff offices in the new buildings, which would be removed after 2023.