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| Just a week before school is
bulldozed |
Campaigners have to move fast to
lodge an appeal
CAMPAIGNERS have one final week to appeal before the bulldozers
move in to demolish St Mary Magdalene primary school.
The objectors will make their last gasp plea to Secretary of State
for Education Ruth Kelly.
At the same time, the Church sponsors of a new academy, in Liverpool
Road, Holloway, had to back down after trying to move the demolition
date forward by seven days.
The Diocese of London, yesterday (Thursday) blamed building contractors
for the gaffe.
They made the announcement in a recent academy newsletter.
Now the work, said Diocese schools boss Tom Peryer, will not begin
“earlier than October 24”.
He said: “I’m not entirely sure where the confusion has
come from. It may be people were talking about machinery being moved
onto the site, which will mark the start of the programme.
“It may have been that an error by the construction manager
in the newsletter.”
The Rosedale nursery, behind the demolition site, has concerns over
noise and dust.
If the Church had brought forward the date by a week it would mean
the work was not happening during half term, when the children are
away.
Meg Howarth, from Ellington Street, said: “The Diocese have
had to back down because they didn’t want to stir things up.
They haven’t got a leg to stand on. It was totally unnecessary
to start this piece of work so soon and it’s just not good
for PR.
“Community relations, particularly with Rosedale, were at risk.
The Diocese realised they had to clean up their act quickly and
we’re delighted they’ve taken the responsible step.”
But Mr Peryer reminded the objectors that construction work in and
around areas where children study and play is commonplace.
He said he could not guarantee there would not be some disruption.
However, Mr Peryer assured that all contractors would adhere strictly
to health and safety guidelines.
He said: “What people will need to understand is that the demolition
will be going on over a period of weeks and the building project
will last for 18 months.”
Once the demolition work of the school and outlying buildings, including
the Milton Skills Centre is complete, the foundations and pins of
the new school can be put into place. This “enabling”
work means construction proper can begin in March so the academy
is open for business the following September.
A source at the Rosedale nursery said: “Of course there are
concerns over dust and noise but we were getting all sorts of leaflets
put through our door with all sorts of different dates. I think
there’s a lot of misinformation going around.”
An initial appeal failed when parents fought against the concept
of the school becoming an academy.
Once the site has been levelled, any appeal will be purely academic.
The academy was given the final go-ahead last month after a series
council committees and public meetings.
Campaigners are set to launch an appeal with the Secretary of State
and complain to the local government ombudsman. |
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