Islington News: Emily Thornberry | Ed Balls | Moorfields School | Bunhill Row

Publications by New Journal Enterprises

Home

Archive

Competition

Islington Tribune - by ROISIN GADELRAB
Published: 6 June 2008

MP Emily Thornberry

Threat to lobby Minister over £7m school site sale

Neighbours fear homes plans will shatter their ‘oasis of calm’

LABOUR MP Emily Thornberry has threatened to call on Education Secretary Ed Balls to halt plans to sell the former Moorfields School site.
Just months after the building, in Bunhill Row, was finally vacated, the Town Hall wants to put the land on the market in a deal that could add at least £7million to council coffers.
The decision came before the council’s executive yesterday (Thursday). Because the one-acre site is designated for educational use, Mr Balls has to give his permission for it to be sold to developers.
The sell-off has infuriated neighbours, who say they have been kept in the dark about the future of the site since the school closed in 2004 as part of an amalgamation with Prior Weston School.
Until last month the building was used by Prior Weston School before its pupils moved to a new building in nearby Golden Lane.
Lib Dem council leader Councillor James Kempton insists residents have known of the sell-off plans since the school closed. “It was always clear we would sell the site in order to fund the merger of the schools,” he said. “We consulted on a package. We said we’re going to fund the amalgamation by selling the site.
“If the residents were not parents of the school then they may not have taken part in the consultation but residents weren’t excluded. There was certainly no doubt in anyone’s minds about what was on offer.”
Ms Thornberry, Islington South and Finsbury MP, has called for a decision to be delayed until a public consultation is carried out. “It’s a whole acre,” she said. “How on earth can they declare it surplus to requirements? The executive is being asked to make the decision to get rid of it. Even before the decision is made they are already spending the money. It shows arrogance on a monumental scale.”
She added: “I don’t believe there are no educational purposes for which this land can be used. Why don’t they ask the boys over in the crowded Central Foundation School? Or what about putting some youth services there?
“This is publicly owned land. It’s only been empty for a month and they are trying to flog it off as fast as they can without anyone noticing. If they insist on this ill-advised plan I will speak to the Secretary of State and tell him what’s going on.”
Resident Gordon Quilty, who lives in Featherstone Street, said: “They should consult over this because of the size of this site, the fact that it’s overlooking the listed Bunhill Fields and the fact it’s owned by the council. The consultation on Ironmonger Row Baths and Finsbury Sports Centre had a big impact on the proposals.”
Neighbour Minjee Beck said: “It seems things are happening without any residents being informed. There are more residents here now than 10 years ago. We’d like to have a say on what happens in our area.”
Steve Chappell, who lives in Featherstone Street, said: “The mess and disruption will be disastrous. Bunhill Fields is beautiful. It’s an oasis of calm in a frantic area of the city. But this means you’re going to have a great big building overlooking it on three more sides.”
Cllr Kempton, who wants the land to be used for housing, said: “There was an enormous consultation when we decided to close the school. I’m happy to give Emily Thornberry a list of school rebuilding plans that could be mothballed and housing that won’t be built if this doesn’t go ahead.”
He added that residents will have their say on any future planning applications.

Comment on this article.
(You must supply your full name and email address for your comment to be published)

Name:

Email:

Comment: