LIB DEMS CALL FOR TALKS OVER ALEXANDRA SCHOOL EXPANSION

13.5.03

Lib Dem councillors in Alexandra ward are calling for greater consultation over plans to build a new sixth form block at Alexandra Park School.

The planned expansion, which the Lib Dems fully support, will provide two extra forms on entry, a sixth form and increase the size of the popular new school. However, local Lib Dem councillors want to ensure that disruption to the widely used Albert Road recreation ground, which may be caused by a temporary access road created for construction vehicles to access the site, is kept to an absolute minimum.

Many residents have expressed alarm that a temporary access road may be made permanent after the completion of building works. Lib Dem councillors are seeking written confirmation that this will not be the case. The councillors are also looking at a number of other issues regarding adequate on-site catering facilities to cope with school expansion, road safety around the premises and alternatives to the access road running through the recreation ground.

Cllr Wayne Hoban, Alexandra councillor and deputy leader of Haringey Lib Dems, comments: "It is essential that Alexandra Park School expands. However it is equally important that the concerns of local residents are fully addressed.

"The recreation ground is a valued facility to the local residents and we will be seeking written assurances from the Council and the school that there will be no attempts to transfer or develop this land as a result of these works."

Fellow Alexandra councillor, Susan Oatway added: "We want to ensure that all options have been thoroughly looked at regarding the road. We must ensure that the recreation ground remains an accessible and safe environment for those who use it throughout the construction of this essential building."

Note: The councillors' detailed concerns are as follows: "As Alexandra ward councillors, we are aware that many residents have expressed considerable concern regarding aspects of the school development plan.

"Firstly, we wish to place on record that we fully support expansion of the school to provide two extra forms of entry and a sixth form. Alexandra Park School is an excellent school, which was confirmed through a glowing Ofsted report.

"We do have significant concerns however regarding certain aspects of the development plan, which need to be addressed before we can give this planning application our full support, which are as follows:

1. The Alexandra Park School - New Sixth Form Centre Planning

The Application Design Statement - 28 March 2003, stated that the existing site, if addressed in isolation, would be below current DfES guidelines on site area and that the design has been developed on a strategy based on the proximity of adjacent open land and the established relationship between the school and Recreation Ground. It is also stated that 'in recognition of the increased pupil numbers on the existing site, the school is developing a strategy to allow responsible pupils and sixth form students to go off-site at break times...which will allow for the use of ...other off-site facilities, such as the local shops.'

2. Alexandra Park School Development Transport Assessment - March 2003

Alternative site access options were examined in this. It is stated that of the 5 options examined, Option A was preferred. This option provided an improved access road adjacent to the existing footpath along the Western boundary of the Recreation Ground. It was proposed that the new access road would enter the site via a new main entrance.

3. Technical Note - produced by Faber Maunsell - Temporary Construction Access via Bidwell Gardens - 23 April 2003

This identified that use of Bidwell Gardens as the main access for construction traffic would be an advantage in that it was relatively low cost and would utilise an existing road. Among disadvantages outlined was an effective road width of approximately 3.5 metres, which would be insufficient to allow two heavy goods vehicles to pass safely, the nominal width of a standard HGV being 2.5 metres. It would therefore not be possible to maintain two-way working along the road for construction traffic.

In the light of the above information, this is what we're working to achieve to get the best for our community:

1. We would require a clear statement from both the school and Haringey council that no part of the existing Recreation Ground will be transferred to the school as a consequence of this development. Any land used for temporary access during the development phase will be fully returned to public use on completion. Planning consent should be subject to a written confirmation of this.

2. We are particularly concerned that pupils will be encouraged to go off-site for their breaks, particularly during winter months where they would be required to cross a very busy road to gain access to shops. Is it suggested that on-site catering facilities will be inadequate to meet the demand from increased pupil numbers? What arrangements will be put in place to ensure that pupils are not put at risk on a daily basis through crossing the busy junction at Alexandra Park Road and the Avenue/Grosvenor Road?

3. Although Option A as outlined in the Transport Assessment document has been subsequently dropped due to lack of support from Haringey Planning, there is still a real concern that the original objective of securing a new access road to the school across the Recreation Ground will be achieved by other means, i.e., conversion of the proposed temporary road across the Recreation Ground into a permanent access road on completion of the development. We would require written assurances that permission to install a permanent road would not be sought or approved within this planning application.

4. We are particularly concerned that the feasibility study produced by Faber Maunsell regarding temporary construction access via Bidwell Gardens is flawed, for the following reasons:

(a) There is insufficient space to allow two ordinary vehicles to pass at present, so the fact that it is claimed that two vehicles would not be able to pass during the development phase is irrelevant.

(b) The proposed access road through the park will not be wide enough to allow two HGV vehicles to pass, so the argument that Bidwell Gardens does not allow that option is irrelevant.

(c) It is suggested that the two proposed pedestrian crossing points along the temporary road would be supervised to facilitate traffic movements and reduce risk to pedestrians. There appears to be no reason why this arrangement could not be transferred to Bidwell Gardens - the required manpower would be the same.

(d) There is likely to be considerable more pedestrian movements across the Recreation Ground than is usual in Bidwell Gardens, therefore the risk to pedestrians would be considerably reduced if Bidwell Gardens was used for site access rather than an increasingly popular and well used Recreation Ground.

These are some, but by no means all, of our concerns regarding the proposed development. We will continue to meet with all interested parties to address these concerns and hopefully find a way to allow successful expansion school to the ultimate benefit of the whole community."

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