Anger at plans for Harrowgate Hill Infants' School redevelopment

7.00.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Sat 20th Jan 2007

The former Harrowgate Hill Infants' School is to be sold off. 38 more flats are to be built! Consultation sham!

Ever since Harrowgate Hill Infants' School closed in 2005, local Liberal Democrats have been campaigning for the building to be converted into a much-needed Community Centre for our area.

Local Labour Councillors refused to support our plans. Now we know why: the Labour Council planned all along to sell off this school to a property developer. With a new building in the playground, a total of 38 flats will be built.

This is another blow from the Labour Council for our campaign to provide a local Community Centre which could also be used as a base for young people.

We want to know how much money the Council got for the site. How is that money going to be used? Has the developer has been asked to provide any benefit to the community in return for planning permission?

The developers decided to hold a 'consultation' session at Morton Palms - on the other side of town. For those without their own transport, this is two bus journeys away!

We attended this presentation. There were very few residents present. We asked the developers to hold another meeting in a place where locals could easily attend. The company have ignored our requests and have now submitted their plans to the Planning Committee.

We believe that local people should be properly consulted. They may have concerns about the size of the proposed development, which could dominate the small houses in the area. The change of use will mean the loss of a valuable local facility. There may be concerns about the effect on traffic and parking in the area.

We have contacted people living in the streets nearby. They tell us they would like the chance to see the plans for themselves. We are asking for more time for local people to be properly consulted. We all know the Council went ahead with the White Horse development - ignoring local people. Maybe this time they'll listen to what you have to say.