NEIGHBOURS SAY 'NO' TO DENMEAD EXPANSION
Neighbours support refurbishment of the Gloucester Road site to build a BETTER school, but object to a BIGGER one
Denmead Neighbours' Association (DNA) represents Hampton residents who have reasonable concerns about the potential expansion of Denmead School's Gloucester Road site.
They object to the scale of expansion on a historically small school site that is simply not suitable for a big school. They believe a better solution could be achieved by listening to the community.
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NEWS:
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KEY REASONS FOR OBJECTION:
- Increase in pupil numbers from 131 to 176 or more (proposed in the School's original application, and implied in the second) would make an already intolerable situation worse, affecting all roads around the school
- Increase in scale of building (building still sized as in the original application for 176 pupils, DNA believes it could hold 200 or more)
- Loss of green, open space in a site designated as "Other Open Land of Townscape Importance" (OOLTI)
- Artificial MUGA sports surface would take up almost half the current natural green space
- Historically this site (a natural extension to the public open space of Carlisle Park), has been protected from
over-development
- Design, height and position of proposed building is unneighbourly Click here for photo evidence
Close proximity to neighbours and height of building would cause intrusion, disturbance and over-shadowing
- Unnecessary opening of new access via narrow residential cul-de-sac for construction traffic and long-term emergency access
Whether you are a Councillor, a parent, a neighbour, a user of Carlisle Park, or a local driver, this site will help you by:
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Hampton School's plans (Hampton School own Denmead School) will have long lasting and detrimental consequences for the local community
- For neighbouring residents
- For the School, parents and children - loss of community support
- For the community at large (e.g. users of neighbouring Carlisle Park)
- For traffic circulating or crossing the area
The School's proposals have attracted wide attention:
- More than 200 local residents expressed concern via petitions
- Well attended public meetings held by the School and DNA
- 120 surrounding residents expressed their opinion via a comprehensive survey
- Our local MP, Vince Cable, expressed his concerns about the original application and Councillors and the local press have been involved
- Planning Officers considered the original application from early February 2012 onwards; their recommendation published 12 December 2012 was for refusal, which the Planning Committee confirmed on 20 December
- About 120 Objections to the new application have been lodged
- Despite these individual objections and the collective evidence from DNA, the application succeeded, however significant conditions were applied