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School move just another attack on our green spaces
• THE original public consultation pamphlet about Ashmount School acknowledged that the plan to rebuild it on Crouch Hill Recreation Ground was “high risk”, so the council cannot be surprised at any difficulties that arise.
The attraction was the possibility of funding the rebuild from selling the existing site for development. The risk was of running up against legislation in place to protect the existing building – locally listed – and the proposed site, Metropolitan Open Land.
The present council, since it took office, has sought to maximise the development potential of its assets, including open space. One of its early acts was to propose to build on Clerkenwell Green (only headed off by a campaign headed by author Peter Ackroyd), and this policy continued with open spaces in various places, including construction on part of Barnard Park, and now proposing it on Crouch Hill Rec and the green space round the Sobell Centre.
Indeed, the council’s Urban Design Guide (December 2006) is hostile to smaller green spaces, seeing them as anti-urban. But open space and greenery are essential to the livability of cities, and Islington is short of them. Under the terms of the London Plan, it was only ever going to be possible to get permission from the Greater London Authority to build on Metropolitan Open Land with a cast-iron case. When the expert report commissioned by the council concludes that the existing Ashmount School can be refurbished and is worth refurbishing, that case cannot be made.
James Dunnett
Barnsbury Road, N1
• ASHMOUNT is a great primary school housed in a failing building. The school community strongly supports the proposed move to a new site on Crouch Hill. Equally, there are some residents close to the current school who are strongly opposed. One of your correspondents asserts that I dismissed the latter group, Ashmount Site Action Group (ASAG), as Nimbys, whereas in fact it is others who have levelled that accusation at them (Why move school when refit could save millions? September 18).
Earlier this year, residents told me they were worried about overdevelopment, with particular concern of potential blight by tower block, as seen elsewhere along parts of Hornsey Lane. I pledged that I would do my utmost to ensure that any future development of the site would be sympathetic and sustainable. Some also asked whether they might at the relevant time buy part of the land to extend their back gardens, a suggestion I agreed to look into, along with a possible communal food-growing or allotment strip. That is, of course, assuming planning permission is granted.
Should Ashmount fulfil its aspiration to move, I would fight to champion the natural wishes of residents to see the best possible outcome on the current site. In the meantime, the merits of the school moving has clearly polarised opinion, and I will be happy to broker a meeting between the school and other local residents if they wish, in order that both sides can better understand each other’s perspective.
What is heartening is that, although disagreeing, all parties seem to have the best interests of the school at heart, and that is to be celebrated.
Cllr Greg Foxsmith
Lib Dem, Hillrise ward (and Ashmount parent)
• IT’S gratifying to see Francis Wilkinson concede that “Ashmount is a successful school in urgent need of better buildings”. But the good start doesn’t last. He goes on to say that the school would have a better educational environment if refurbished rather than moved to Crouch Hill. Why is his judgement better than that of the head and staff of Ashmount – those who have made it such a “successful school”?
He describes Crouch Hill park as much smaller than the current Ashmount site. In fact, it’s about four times bigger. Of course, the space exclusively occupied by the school will be different. The new school, the new nursery and the new youth project can only occupy the same area as the old buildings at Crouch Hill, since no open land can be lost.
But the rest of the park, restored for community use, will be available for the children, which compensates – and the school, despite being in the inner city, will have a countryside setting. Even Mr Wilkinson’s offer to provide “assistance” to the school wouldn’t make up, should he get his way, for losing the benefit to our children which the move will bring.
Jeremy Norton
Former parent-governor, Ashmount School
Highcroft Road, N19
• AS a parent of two children at Ashmount School, I find it deeply disappointing that the application for the Crouch Hill site has been deferred.
There is a great deal of local support for the redevelopment. It will bring much-needed improvements, such as lighting and security, as well as a facility which can be used by the community and may even help more people realise the beauty of the Parkland Walk nature reserve. What’s more, there are no objections from residents local to the Crouch Hill site to its redevelopment.
A Robertson
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