PUPILS at Bournemouth’s only free school have suffered another setback as plans to move to a new site have been delayed again.

Less than three weeks before lessons were due to start at Parkfield School’s Hurn Airport site, parents have been informed their children will continue to be taught in temporary accommodation in a former office block.

There is currently still a large amount of building equipment at the new site and sports hall is still under construction.

But now the school says a problem with the water supply means work can’t be completed on schedule.

In a letter to parents, interim head Ian Golding said: “Contractors Kier and project managers Mace have explained that complications with the water supply at the Hurn site have arisen, which means the new building cannot now be occupied in April.

“Routine testing of the water indicated that it is contaminated, which presents challenges for the mechanical plant on site. As such the building cannot be occupied until this issue has been resolved.

“Our aim is to begin moving to the new building over the summer holidays, ready to welcome your children in September.”

Graham Exon, chair of Parkfield’s Advisory Board, said: “We are obviously very disappointed about the further issues that have arisen, but they are unexpected and unavoidable.”

The delay is the latest in a series of embarrassing problems which have beset the school since 2011.

It was more than two years before plans were revealed for the school to open its doors at Dorset House in Christchurch Road, Bournemouth after difficulty finding a suitable home.

When the school opened in September 2013, pupils had to be taken to Butcher’s Coppice scout camp for lessons because Dorset House was not ready for occupation.

At the time parents were told the premises would be used for just two years until the school moved to a purpose-built site in the town centre.

After difficulty finding a town centre site, leaders announced plans to move to the former air traffic control centre at Hurn. Problems with asbestos and bats have been blamed for previous delays and the school has been rated as Requires Improvement. Concerns have also been raised about how pupils will get to the new site and congestion with the airport traffic.