Ricmond and Twickenham Times covers the story

Here's link to the Richmond and Twickenham Times coverage of the Councils refusal to listen to Local parents and Residents.

Hundreds petition plans to sell part of Russell School, Richmond

8:00am Saturday 27th July 2013 in News By Amy Dyduch

 

  

 

Almost 800 people feel they have been ignored by the council, which approved plans to sell off part of a school’s land to developers.

As part of a redevelopment of Strathmore School in Ham, the council planned to split the school across three sites to accommodate 46 extra places, increasing from 50 to 96, for children with severe learning difficulties.

The school would be split between St Richard Reynolds Catholic College, Grey Court School and the Russell School – which is seeing its site downsized by a third.

Plans to develop teaching facilities for the special school, which include larger hall spaces, a hydrotherapy pool and improved sensory environments, were approved at a Richmond Council cabinet meeting on July 18.

Despite more than 95 per cent of Strathmore parents agreeing with the proposal when it went to public consultation, there was strong amount of opposition from people living near and parents of children at the Russell School due to the reduction of the school playing field.

Heateacher Samantha Leir supported the plans.

A petition carrying almost 800 signatures was handed in at the council meeting.

Richard Morris, who set up a blog in protest of the plans, said parents had continually expressed their concern as to how the project was funded but were continually ignored.

 He said: “We are absolutely not trying to stop SEN provision. The views of Russell parents have been ignored. It is very frustrating.

“If it had been clear from the outset then you can’t help but think some sort of compromise could have been reached.”

Richmond Council’s deputy leader Councillor Geoffrey Samuel did not have a lot of sympathy to those who had objected the plans.

He said: “We are a compassionate borough and this is the only way of showing that.
“I just hope that those who are objecting to it will see that the compassionate thing to do is to do this.
“Obviously they are losing a little bit of land, but not much on a site that is already very large already.”

Concerns were also raised about the increased traffic in the area.

Coun Samuel said: “If you build anything new there is going to be more traffic – I have some sympathy with that. But some irresponsible people have been stirring this up.”

A planning application will need to be submitted for permission is granted to start the building work.
Headteacher of Strathmore Ivan Pryce said: “Strathmore pupils, families, governors and staff are delighted that children and young people in Richmond with the most sever and complex learning difficulties will have access to the highest quality resources and classrooms they need.”