Liberal Democrats support residents and parents in opposing Fenstanton School plans

2.10.11pm GMT Tue 18th Nov 2008

"We will be supporting the campaign by local residents and parents at Fenstanton Primary School to oppose the building of a secondary school on their grounds" was the pledge from Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson Chris Nicholson after a meeting of Lambeth Council's Labour Cabinet had forced through plans to build on the school site on Monday evening.

Local parents and residents were shocked when Cllr Paul McGlone revealed that the Labour Group had already decided that this was the right place for the school before they had even consulted local residents and parents. He then proceeded to attack the residents and parents who had organised a petition of over 600 signatures opposing the plan saying that they had been attempting to mislead local people!

"Everyone recognises that Lambeth needs more secondary school places, but trying to squeeze a new secondary school onto this site alongside the primary school is the wrong solution. It's like trying to squeeze a quart into a pint pot. The Council should be looking to expand existing popular schools and look again at alternative sites" commented Chris Nicholson after the meeting.

"The whole of the local community of the St Martin's Estate are united in their opposition, and the Council has not even bothered to consult residents across the other side of the South Circular from the school site. There are so many concerns about the plan from interested parties; from St Martin's Community Partnership who would need to sell land to the Council and from Transport for London, who are concerned about the entrance to the school being on the busy South Circular Road, that it will take ages for the scheme to get the go ahead. Liberal Democrats will be joining with local people in opposing the plans every step of the way."