A small piece of land suitable for building a new entrance to the preferred site of Haverfordwest’s new secondary school could be bought using compulsory purchase powers (CPO).

Sir Thomas Picton (STP) school site is the potential preferred location of a new English-medium 11 to 19 school in the town.

The Tasker Milward site had originally come forward as the most likely site but councillors asked council officers to look again at the possibility of the STP base.

Now, further work has been carried out on the cost and construction time of a road from near Scotchwell roundabout to the site, as well as a possible road link crossing a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

The new access would cross land owned by a third party with council officers concluding there is no alternative land available following the consideration of various highway options.

Part of the land is also owned by the Trunk Road Agency.

A report for cabinet members to consider on Monday (February 12) states that acquiring this will “form part of the discussions with Welsh Government for construction of the new spur from the roundabout and, if required, increasing the size of the roundabout.”

Negotiations are set to begin with the third party but to ensure it is purchased for the development if an appropriate valuation cannot be agreed a “resolution in principle is required to adopt compulsory purchase powers.”

Cabinet is recommended to approve in principle approving the powers and if council approves the STP site as the preferred site the director of development is delegated authority to prepare the CPO documentation.