Statement on Elvian School closure

I was saddened to hear that the Elvian School has decided to close its doors in July 2010. The refusal of the Planning Application is cited as a reason behind the closure. Some years ago as the local councillor I worked with the Elvian to shape an application that would take the local population's concerns, such as traffic and development into account and a school would ensure a future for the present pupils. However, the first application was withdrawn and a second application which increased the number of flats and houses with less parking spaces and a private rackets club was proposed as well as a large school. There was no detail on traffic, Sport England had major concerns about the lack of green space and the building on playing fields and the lack of specific detail about entrance for cars. It was no surprise that 100's of local residents opposed the application and the Council Planning Department could not support the development.

Below is the statement Labour Councillors in Southcote have sent to the media.

READING & DISTRICT LABOUR PARTY MEDIA RELEASE
9 March 2010
Elvian School decision: Labour in action
The decision of the Licensed Trade Charity to close the Elvian School in Bath Road at the end of the summer term has come as no surprise to Southcote Councillor John Ennis, who called a public meeting last summer about LTC’s planning application and spoke against it at Planning Committee.
He says he’s always been worried that LTC saw the site more as a business opportunity than an educational mission, and believes it’s very likely they’ll now try and sell the whole site for housing.
But, he points out: “We’ve already persuaded Reading Borough Council to produce a development brief against which to benchmark any new planning application. The brief will cover issues like protecting the trees and the playing fields and, very importantly access to the site and will be the subject of public consultation so as to make sure it takes the views of local people fully into account.”
And Labour parliamentary candidate Naz Sarkar adds: “One of the things the Council needs to look at is whether they ought to reserve part of the site to allow for Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School next door to expand to cater for the growing numbers of children needing secondary school places.”
//ENDS

For further information contact John Ennis 0789 1382672
Naz Sarkar 0798 0281834
or R&DLP Press Officer Pete Ruhemann0782 1609206
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