Free school supporters hit out at council (From Warrington Guardian)
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Free school supporters hit out at council
1:00pm Friday 8th March 2013 in News
Shane Ierston
SUPPORTERS of a free school planned for Woolston have accused Warrington Borough Council of unfairly influencing a planning application.
It is the latest controversy to surround the maligned planning department.
Parents at King’s Leadership Academy Warrington say they have submitted numerous positive comments to the council’s website backing plans for new buildings on Hillock Lane.
The application was registered on January 22 with parents claiming messages of support were sent in immediately.
As of Tuesday, only six comments from residents had been added - all against the application.
Parent governor Colin Scotland said there is now ‘widespread concern’ it is being manipulated.
Education bosses have previously said they were ‘bullied’ into considering an application for the Hillock Lane site.
Jane Willington’s daughter Megan, aged 12, attends the free school, currently based on Seymour Drive in Bruche, with son Jake, aged 11, starting in September.
“I have left positive comments but they have not been put on the website,” said Mrs Willington, of Biggin Court, Padgate.
“All of these negative comments are being put on the website but all of the positive support isn’t being shown.
“I think the council is trying to put a negative stamp on it so people think that nobody wants this school.”
Karen Barker, of Padgate Lane, Padgate, also plans to send her son there in September.
She also left a positive comment which is yet to be displayed and said: “If they are uploading negative comments they should be uploading the positive ones as well.
“I think the council is playing funny games because it didn’t want the school in the first place.”
Andy Farrall, executive director of environment and regeneration at Warrington Borough Council, said: “The local planning authority has received approximately 100 representations made online, by email and via letter in relation to the Hillock Lane application.
"Some of those are still being uploaded to the website and should be published by the end of today.
"The team is currently dealing with a significant number of planning applications and appeals which have generated a lot of public interest at this time so things are unfortunately taking a little longer than would usually be the case.”
Shane Ierston, head teacher at the free school, said: “We hope they do appear on the application.
“We just want it to be fair.”
A date has yet to be set for when the application will be considered by the council.
If approved, King’s Leadership Academy Warrington will be based in new buildings on the playing fields at Hillock Lane from September next year.
Officials have pledged the development will benefit the community and improve sports facilities.
Comments(7)
mustang1974
says...
5:48pm Fri 8 Mar 13
To say that the supporting letters 'should not carry the same weight as the objections' is a completey arrogant and non-democratic viewpoint and has no place in any well structured and thought out argument.
ALL support and objections should be rationalised during the thought process when deciding the future of Woolston, its school, its residents and children/students.
My own personal opinion is, I suspect that the main objectors in all of this are the residents who have already received a free, local, friendly and safe education who now believe it is now their right to a peaceful, non-disruptive lifestyle. Life evolves, towns and communities evolve and hopefully with good consequence. Bear in mind disruption is good, disruption challenges the norm, disruption can create collaborative thinking providing excellence.
Kings Academy appear to be 'disruptive' forward thinking leaders with a first class education at the heart of their ethos. To have this kind of establishment and ambition right on our doorstep should be congratulated and made welcome.
Come on residents of Woolston, think out of the box, be imaginative, promote disruptive collaboration and get behind this fantastic, forward thinking, educational and futuristic plan.
mac
says...
11:16pm Fri 8 Mar 13
MikeJT
says...
8:08am Sat 9 Mar 13
...................r
ecent history has shown that the whole department is not coordinated enough to manage that.
Nick Tessla
says...
9:05am Tue 12 Mar 13
mustang1974 wrote:Fair enough that views should be "rationalised" and it is rational that the lives of those negatively affected should carry more weight than those living outside the immediate area who are shipping their children in - including those being encouraged to submit positive comments about the school.
To Nick Tessla,
To say that the supporting letters 'should not carry the same weight as the objections' is a completey arrogant and non-democratic viewpoint and has no place in any well structured and thought out argument.
ALL support and objections should be rationalised during the thought process when deciding the future of Woolston, its school, its residents and children/students.
My own personal opinion is, I suspect that the main objectors in all of this are the residents who have already received a free, local, friendly and safe education who now believe it is now their right to a peaceful, non-disruptive lifestyle. Life evolves, towns and communities evolve and hopefully with good consequence. Bear in mind disruption is good, disruption challenges the norm, disruption can create collaborative thinking providing excellence.
Kings Academy appear to be 'disruptive' forward thinking leaders with a first class education at the heart of their ethos. To have this kind of establishment and ambition right on our doorstep should be congratulated and made welcome.
Come on residents of Woolston, think out of the box, be imaginative, promote disruptive collaboration and get behind this fantastic, forward thinking, educational and futuristic plan.
I would feel the same about an establishment with a proven track record - it is not just because the school is selling a fantasy, is not needed and will have a negative impact on other schools in Warrington.
Nick Tessla
says...
9:08am Tue 12 Mar 13
Just as the views of local residents on Peel Hall should be seen by the council as more important than the wishes of the management of Satnam.
mac
says...
3:47pm Tue 12 Mar 13
Nick Tessla says...
2:05pm Fri 8 Mar 13
However their support (co-ordinated and encouraged by the school or not) should not carry the same weight as objections of people actually affected by the development.
I realise that realities like that may be difficult to swallow for those who support this school.