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Plan to sell Wickford school land dropped
7:41am Saturday 5th January 2008
Comments (12)A COUNTY council plan to merge two schools and sell off land for development have been dropped following objections from governors.
Education bosses had suggested merging Wick-ford Infant School with Wickford Junior School to free up the infant school grounds and playing fields for development.
The school, currently based at Irvon Hill Road, would have relocated alongside the junior school site in Market Road, Wickford.
The plan was to reinvest land sale cash in other schools across Wickford.
However, county council bosses have now dropped the idea following objections.
Alan Ball, chairman of Wickford Action Group, which is fighting to limit the amount of development in the town, said: "To move on to the same ground would have meant the combined schools would lose a significant area of playing fields.
"This at a time when the population of the town is being increased by more than 700 flats under the Wickford masterplan.
"Wickford has precious few old buildings.
"This would have further destroyed the character of the town, while filling the pockets of developers and estate agents."
Basildon Council leader Malcolm Buckley said he had been told by the governing bodies of the schools they did not support the idea.
He said: "I have been written to by the governors who say they do not think it is in the interests of the schools to merge.
"I have no objection to schools merging if they bring benefits, but it should not be done for the sake of it. I think the best people to judge this are the governors."
Councillor Tracey Chapman, cabinet member for schools, children and families, said: "The council had discussions with the governing bodies of Wickford Infant School and Wickford Junior School to see if they wanted to explore the possibility of relocating the infant school to a new state-of-the-art building on the junior school site as part of the proposed town centre regeneration.
"Unfortunately, the governing bodies have decided they do not want to pursue this course of action and the council will not be taking it further."
Your Say YourEcho
Chair of Governors?, WICKFORD says...
2:49pm Sat 5 Jan 08
Alan Ball, Wickford says...
8:59pm Sat 5 Jan 08
Chair of Governors? wrote:Please, how doyou know I only speak on hehalf of seven people? I think the Wickford Action Group speaks for more than that!
Would it have not been better for the Chair of Governors at the School to comment rather than an unelected chap who speaks on behalf of seven people?
bob, pitsea says...
9:50pm Sun 6 Jan 08
Sorry, WICKFORD says...
10:30pm Sun 6 Jan 08
Sheila Asl
Trevor Harris
David Harrison
Derek Harrison
Amanda Hufton
Toni Longman
David Mead
Derek Paffett
John Rushton (minutes and website)
Steve Thompson
Norma Young
v.ellis, wickford says...
4:46am Mon 7 Jan 08
l done governors.
Alan Ball, Wickford says...
8:05am Mon 7 Jan 08
Sandra, Lifetime Wickford resident, says...
2:20pm Mon 7 Jan 08
Ball the Hack, WICKFORD says...
9:28pm Mon 7 Jan 08
Alan Ball wrote:No you didn't break the story you saw an angle to self promote yourself and took it.
Without the Wickford Action Group this story would never have broke, the reson I was asked was because I helped break the story. We are just trying to inform the residents of what is happening without any political spin, if you are brave enough to criticise then put your name, by the way we have good support in Wickford as was demonstrated at the last election.
Why not wait before alarming parents and pupils until after the elected governing body had considered the proposal.
The ability of Mr Ball to align his name with any piece of news relating to Wickford is very impressive.
Roll on May
Alan Ball, Wickford says...
12:12pm Tue 8 Jan 08
Ball the Hack wrote:Informimng the residents, surly is a good thing. The governing bodies of the School have rejected this, which is good, but who suggested it in the first place?
Alan Ball wrote: Without the Wickford Action Group this story would never have broke, the reson I was asked was because I helped break the story. We are just trying to inform the residents of what is happening without any political spin, if you are brave enough to criticise then put your name, by the way we have good support in Wickford as was demonstrated at the last election.No you didn\'t break the story you saw an angle to self promote yourself and took it. Why not wait before alarming parents and pupils until after the elected governing body had considered the proposal. The ability of Mr Ball to align his name with any piece of news relating to Wickford is very impressive. Roll on May
Be brave put your name or you can e-mail me on balla@btinternet.com to discuss this.
wickfordaware, wickford says...
1:48pm Wed 9 Jan 08
Ball the Hack wrote:Far be it from me to break up a fight but I would like to point out Mr Ball is not the one alarming parents. From what I have read all he has done is made public information he has found. If you had taken the time to study the map at the original consultantion meeting 4 years ago you would have seen for yourself this was what the council had in mind all along. The Infant School was marked as possible development area. If anyone is alarming residents then it is the council by not being honest with their true intent. I also say roll on May - I know who will get my vote - the one that tells the truth
Alan Ball wrote: Without the Wickford Action Group this story would never have broke, the reson I was asked was because I helped break the story. We are just trying to inform the residents of what is happening without any political spin, if you are brave enough to criticise then put your name, by the way we have good support in Wickford as was demonstrated at the last election.No you didn't break the story you saw an angle to self promote yourself and took it. Why not wait before alarming parents and pupils until after the elected governing body had considered the proposal. The ability of Mr Ball to align his name with any piece of news relating to Wickford is very impressive. Roll on May
stew, wickford says...
9:32pm Wed 9 Jan 08
Resistance governors were against a merger of the two schools
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Basman, Basildon says...
2:38pm Sat 5 Jan 08