Page 15 - link magazine

swindonlink.com • January 2008 15
Temporary classrooms could be the start of a permanent solution
There could be classrooms on the designated primary school site (PS7) in Oakhurst within 18 months, but this is not soon enough for frus
trated parents who have raised a petition to be presented to Swindon Council's cabinet on 23 January.
A public meeting called by North ings on the site, and to federate the
Swindon MP Michael Wills in ^r school so that some facilities could
November to discuss the shortage be shared. Coun Perkins estimates
of school places in North Swindon o '^ that a temporary facility could be
heard that Swindon Council i - place within 18 months, costing
considering installing temporary - / u about £2 million, including the
classrooms off Pioneer Road in . - installation of services suitable for
Oakhurst '^ a later permanent building.
p
Despite agreement by the cou - He said, "we don't have £7 mil-
cil cabinet that there should an p^, lion for a permanent build. The
another form of entry at St Francis k • 41 1 council will soon be looking at the
in Taw Hill, there is an anticipated i capital budget for 2010 onwards; we
shortfall of 30 places a year from ,;,. know we need these places but it's
September 2008. , about finding the funding."
Phoenix Garden resident Richard " J, ( Coun Perkins said that the
Kirk is dissatisfied with responses - tl council expects to know by March
from the council at the meeting. His if the money will be available for
daughter, Lilly, is due to start school temporary provision.
in September. "In our small area '° However North Swindon MP
there are five children ready to go. Our children need a local school say Oakhurst parents at the Pioneer Road site Michael Willssaid thecouncil could
They could be placed in five differ- master plan agreed by Swindon or four years. The number of houses proceed if they want to. "I cannot
ent schools and that's not good for Council planning committee in already built equals the number understand why Swindon says
their social skills, nor our attempts 1999. However a consultants' report predicted for 2011 according to the there are no capital funds available.
to build a community. in 2003 concluded that it would original plans. They know how much extra money
"The council won't commit to not be needed and the plans were Coun Perkins said that the need they have got from the government.
anything; I feel they want to use shelved. The council has retained an for a school is now clear. "We want They may choose not to spend some
the land for something else and option to build on the site which is to go ahead with PS7 as we know of this extra funding on PS7but that
they are fobbing us off. I want still owned by the North Swindon we need to increase the number of is a decision for them.
them to confirm what's happening. Development Company. places over the next couple of years "They have got the funding
Most people bought houses here Councillor Gary Perkins, cabinet by two more forms. If we don't use if they choose to spend it at
thinking that there was going to councillor for children services,said PS7foreducationuse,itwillgoback Oakhurst."
be a school." that house building in North Swin- to the developer." The petition organised by Barry
The land for PS7 was shown don has progressed more rapidly One option to speed the process Davis can be found at: www.go-
on the Haydon III development than anticipated over the last three would be to put temporary build- petition.com

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