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Friday 21st October, 2005

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By MARK BLUNDEN

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SABOTAGE CAMPAIGN

Dirty tricks seek to scupper controversial academy

A MYSTERY ‘dirty tricks’ campaign playing on parents’ fears for children’s health is dogging the establishment of a controversial new Holloway city academy.
Professionally designed leaflets and posters warned parents to keep their children away from the nursery next to St Mary Magdalene Primary School, Liverpool Road, in case they suffer breathing problems from dust during demolition.
However, contractors who will begin bulldozing the school on Monday, denied they had put out the material.
Campaigners both for and against the academy scheme this week soundly denounced the tactics as likely to cause unnecessary alarm.
A reporter was passed two of the hoax leaflets, purporting to be from two recognised contractors, which had been sent to a local Rosedale Early Years Centre close to the dem-olition site. The notice said:” We advise parents who are concerned about the effects of dust and other effects on children with asthma to keep their children away when work begins.”
The leaflet left a contact number and name for the academy’s sponsors the Diocese of London. The leaflet also spelt the contact’s name differently each time.
Paul Greaney, a Crossley Street resident who objects strongly to the academy, condemned the misinformation campaign. He said: “If it’s true that a rogue element is putting out fake literature designed to create alarm among parents and carers of children at Rosedale and at St Mary Mags primary school, then it’s both astonishing and shameful. I would condemn such tactics as not only unhelpful to all concerned but wholly irresponsible.
“I’ll have nothing to do with a campaign that spreads fear amongst parents and children.”
Schools boss and executive member for children, Councillor James Kempton hit out at the pamphlets as “disgraceful”.
He said: “This forged leaflet was clearly designed to cause worry for parents and spread groundless fears about their children’s health.
“Demolition is always noisy but it won’t be dangerous. Some of the people who object to the academy seem to have lost all sense of proportion and I hope everyone in the area will condemn the scare tactics they are now using.
“We are happy to debate the benefits for Islington of building a new secondary school, but scare-mongering about children’s health is going too far.”
He added that the headteacher at St Mary’s who is still involved at the school has written to parents to reassure them that there is no risk. Play leaders at Rosedale have done the same.
Anyone with queries about the building work should contact Philip Hann of EC Harris 020 7391 2786.

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