Pembrokeshire County Council today (Thursday) voted for the authority to begin its fifth consultation on secondary school education in Haverfordwest.

Councillors heard that meetings with the trustees of the Tasker Milward and Picton Trust had been “positive”.

Councillors were recommended to authorise the director for children and schools, Kate Evan-Hughes, to undertake general consultation on the proposal discontinue Sir Thomas Picton and Tasker Milward VC schools on August 31 2018.

A new 11-19 English medium secondary school in Haverfordwest will then be established on September 1 2018, initially using both existing school sites.

However there is an ambition to build a new school on either the existing Tasker Milward or Sir Thomas Picton school sites, subject to appropriate Council and Welsh Government approvals.

Previous proposals to create a merged 11-16 school, with sixth form provision at Pembrokeshire College, created a storm of protest from school pupils and staff, parents and governors alike. Last May full council made a shock vote against an 11-16 school in Haverfordwest.

Councillor Tessa Hodgson said she was still very concerned about putting both schools on two separate sites.

“I think that is of great concern,” she said. “Can we have reassurances from the leader that the time that is left in place is as short as possible?”

Councillor Tom Tudor said that he had been approached by concerned constituents who were worried that the sixth form would be located on the Tasker Milward site while the rest of the school was located at Sir Thomas Picton, creating an 11-16 school by default. He asked for reassurances that this would not happen. He asked the leader to work with the Welsh Government to ensure new school was built on one site.

All councillors voted in favour for a general consultation on the discontinuation of the two schools and creation of a new establishment.