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James Rubinstein with members of the Mill Lane Area Action Group |
‘Get the school site right,’ planners told
Residents fear expansion will ‘damage community’
CAMPAIGNERS have urged Emmanuel school in West Hampstead to rethink its proposed expansion to a larger site opposite them, over fears the move could damage wildlife and cut off community space.
At a packed meeting in West Hampstead library last Tuesday, the Mill Lane Area Action Group (MLAAG) was launched to fight Emmanuel’s plans to demolish four homes opposite their school on Mill Lane.
As part of the development, Sington Nursery, currently housed in the Mill Lane Open Space and next to the condemned houses, would be moved to Fortune Green.
The Open Space is also home to a small Emmanuel nursery. Under plans, that land would be swapped for an equal piece of land next to the new development.
The £8million proposal would see the school double in size and take on twice as many pupils.
Campaigners claim the proposed site is wrong and have urged school leaders to “get the site right”.
Although the school has yet to submit a planning application to Camden, they are carrying out a consultation with neighbours, which ends in July.
Emmanuel argues it is massively oversubscribed and pressure on places will only rise in the future.
Two weeks ago the New Journal revealed 133 children did not have a primary school place this year in Camden.
The condemned houses opposite the school were bought by Camden Council more than 40 years ago with the intention of expanding the school, but it did not have the money until now.
MLAAG say the site has been made an impossibility over time, arguing that it could not cope with extra pupils, footfall and traffic.
MLAAG’s Pippa Rubinstein said: “The Mill Lane Open Space is a highly prized asset to the area.
“Despite people saying they’ll look after it, imagine it.
“The site will be decimated.”
However not everyone was set against the school’s plans.
Mother-of-two Rosaleen Josephs told the meeting she had come to listen to both sides of the argument, but despite living next door to what would be a building site said she was in favour of the development.
And retired children’s librarian Jean Smith, 86, said it was the best place for the children.
She said: “They should build on that site – it was always designated for them.
“This is a case of ‘not in my back yard’.” |
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