Give your view on school plan (From Surrey Comet)

Give your view on school plan

Residents’ views are being sought on plans for a new secondary school on the Richmond border that could have an “adverse impact” on borough schools.

School plan: North Kingston Centre

Kingston Council bosses accepted a scheme to build an eight-form secondary school on the site of the North Kingston Centre, about 500 yards from the borough boundary, earlier this year.

The proposal for a school so large – with 240 children in each year – has attracted controversy.

Richmond Park MP Zac Goldsmith, who has the school in his constituency, said he had not spoken to anyone who wanted such a large school, and Councillor Paul Hodgins, Richmond Council cabinet member for schools, also expressed his fears.

Coun Hodgins said: “I can appreciate the problem which Kingston Council has – it must find more space for the rising numbers of pupils going to school in the borough – as it is a similar experience to ours.

“That said, I do not believe Kingston has yet made the case for a new school of this size so close to two of our own schools, and when Kingston Council consulted on the proposal earlier this year we submitted our clear opposition to it.

“A third of the students at Grey Court School, which is very close to the site, come from Kingston, as do a significant proportion at Christ’s.

“A new school of this size in north Kingston could have a significant adverse impact upon those schools’ recruitment.”

Kingston Council – which denied there would be such a threat – said residents would have until July 31 to comment on a draft planning brief for the site.

The brief confirms the plans are for a school with 1,680 pupils to open in 2015.

A Kingston Council spokesman said: “About 4,000 homes and businesses within a half-mile radius of the site will receive copies of the draft planning brief and then have until July 31 to register any comments.

“The brief sets out urban design, sustainability and transport requirements to help ensure the school fits in with its surroundings and minimises any adverse impact on the environment.”

The brief lays out the plan for a “state of the art” school with access via Richmond Road – the main route from Richmond and Ham to Kingston – which will be mainly three storeys in height, four at its highest point.

There will also be an exhibition at the North Kingston Centre, Kingston library and the Guildhall, Kingston, during the consultation period, and drop-in sessions at the North Kingston Centre on July 14 and 16, between 3pm and 7pm, when Kingston Council officers will be on hand to answer questions.