Carlton Primary School 

• I MUST voice my deepest anxiety and frustration over the proposed closure of the Carlton community school in the near future.

The half-hearted measures so far taken by the council need clarification. What, for example, is the council’s timetable for taking their decision? Why has the council not taken into account the plans to build over 800 new additional homes in the area?

How does the proposed closure of Carlton and the Lismore Circus Nursery relate to a plan for the area and the vision expressed by over 1,000 residents for Gospel Oak in the council’s published consultation report in May 2016?

Why did the council refuse to undertake an initial risk assessment on the proposed closure? What would be the financial forecast of maintaining Carlton as a one-form entry for, say, five years until the additional new buildings start to come on line?

What professional assurances and guarantees of future employment are offered to the staff who are being asked to reopen the school?

Why has Carlton been chosen for closures when other neighbouring primary schools are also struggling with fallen roles? What plans do the council have for safeguarding those more fortunate schools?

Camden are playing a cat-and-mouse game with Carlton and the Gospel Oak community knowing fully well that the process they are following is undemocratic insular and biased.

Last but not the least I must add that I am greatly concerned about the decline of the area that I witnessed when I returned recently.

Not only are the council ruthlessly trying to destroy the future of the Carlton School and Lismore Circus Nursery they are consciously making every effort with their cold and callous plan to uproot a perfectly strong community, thus letting a thriving street market collapse.

I demand that a public community meeting should be arranged as soon as possible by councillors Angela Mason and Georgia Gould to discuss their proposals with the Gospel Oak community – the people that really matter.

They owe an explanation to the electors.

DALU CHOWDHURY
Former head of Carlton School
(1995-2005)