A DATE has now been set for the meeting which will decide the future of land on the Leyton cricket ground.

The Charity Commission will meet with the council on September 9 to discuss proposals to build a new 1,700-pupil school as part of the Building Schools for the Future programme.

The land on the former Essex County Ground, off High Road, is currently held in trust and it has already been confirmed that it cannot be appropriated by the council to build the school under section 122 of the Local Government Act.

Section 122 allows authorities to seize land under certain circumstances for the purposes of new developments.

The new school would form part of a school trust, headed by the Institute of Education, made up of Norlington School for Boys and what will be George Mitchell All-Through School.

Parents, teachers and campaigners have already expressed fierce opposition to the plans as they believe there will be a detrimental impact on the local area and on pupils' welfare.

Strike action has been taken by NUT members at Norlington and members of the University and College Union at the Institute of Education have said they will boycott involvement in trust schools.

The new school term begins on September 1 and George Mitchell and Beaumont Schools will have undergone a “merger” to become George Mitchell All-Through School.

The council has said a statement will not be issued until after the meeting takes place.