Schools plans get gold star from parents

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Wednesday, May 20, 2009
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This is HullandEastRiding

PARENTS have voiced their support for plans to transform education in north Hull.

A consultation has been held on the proposals, which include a new University of Hull-sponsored academy school to be built on Princess Elizabeth Playing Fields, off Beverley Road.

Under the scheme, a replacement school for Endike Primary School would also be built, along with more green spaces and community facilities.

In total, 11 consultation events have been held over the past two months which saw school staff, parents, children and the community have their say.

The plans are part of Hull's Building Schools For The Future (BSF) proposals – a multi-million pound project that aims to rebuild or refurbish almost every secondary school in England.

A share of £65m the city secured from the Government to rebuild primary schools will also be used to fund the project.

Denise Mortimer, 51, has four grandchildren at Green Way Primary School, in 21st Avenue, north Hull. If the plans are approved, the youngsters would be educated at what will be known as the Northern Academy on the Princess Elizabeth Playing Fields.

She said: "I think the school should move on to the playing fields because it is not being used to its full potential.

"I have not met anyone who does not think it is a good idea, as long as they put entrances in the right place."

Katie Burkitt, whose six-year-old daughter Molly also attends Green Way School said: "The plans look good."

Mike Ross, formerly Hull City Council's portfolio holder for education, was involved in the consultation before moving roles.

He said: "The feedback has been positive. Often with meetings like this it is usual to get people who are concerned and against the proposals, but at a number of meetings everyone in the room has been in favour.

"A number of people said the new location for the academy would be better for them and their families.

"The reaction to the other measures and improvements being proposed has been good.

"People are welcoming the investment in sports facilities."

Hull's BSF team is creating 12 new secondary schools in a £400m investment.

In north Hull, the academy will have between 1,200 and 1,300 students, while the replacement for Endike Primary School will have about 280 places.

There will also be new public green space, which will provide walking, leisure and play areas.

It will be created by using land on the current Sir Henry Cooper School site in Thorpepark Road, Orchard Park, along Beverley and Barmston Drain and through Oak Road Playing Fields in Beverley Road.

There will new sports and leisure facilities for community and club use too.

Following the consultation, planning permission must now be secured. Anyone who would like to see the plans in more detail should visit www.buildingourfuture.co.uk

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    by Mike, Hull

    Friday, May 22 2009, 6:37PM

    “Now where do I start, I went to a lot of these consultation meetings, I must be blind because I certainly did not see at any 90% of people against it what I saw was a lot of people with a genuine interest in their area. Now all these claims on this web site are beginning to get me unhappy, why because a lot of people tried hard to meet the requirements of the residents of the Northern Hull area. First by trying to find another location and then when it was realised there is nowhere else by looking at the reasons why the original application was turned down and rather than appeal the original by putting together another application that was far better than the first.
    So on to carrots I didn¿t see any nor did I see any cabbages or Swedes what I did see were people who cared about their children about education and about the area. So let¿s look at this 200 people signed a petition well there are 15000 houses in the area this school covers around 30 odd thousand souls who in a fair percentage want this school compared to a minority who don¿t. I do.
    I have a school on my doorstep, now I have visited Sir Henry Cooper and the children have always been well behaved when I¿ve been there. The land the lady claims was gifted to the city was in the Abercrombie plan marked down as education land and had the buildings on it knocked down in 1948 yes a large part of PEPF is brown field. But it is green now the land to the North ie.Tesco and around was indeed education land and if Humberside county Council hadn¿t have sold it off it i9s probable t6hat that is where the Northern Academy would have ended up.
    Another urban myth there is no report in the HDM or in the minutes of the Planning Committee about MI5 and Tesco. Yes the counci9l can compensate for the land with a lease providing the lease for the land is as long as the one for the school. Dinner money spent in Tesco is a no no it is planned to keep the children on site.
    So please all your objections were covered either at the meetings or in the literature so read it after all if you objected last time the council took your fears and mitigated them to the maximum amount.”

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    by Margaret, North Hull

    Wednesday, May 20 2009, 9:46PM

    “What right do the Hull City Council have to give OUR Princess Elizabeth Playing Fields to an organisation who are hell bent on trying to build a school on it? The Princess Elizabeth Playing Fields were GIFTED to the residents of north Hull in 1936 and it is protected by a legal Covenant to stop anybody building anything on it that can be construed as noisy, obnoxious or a business, it is to be solely used as a leisure park and sports facility for residents to use FREE OF CHARGE, try getting onto a school area to hold events, you will soon be given the bum's rush. The traffic situation will become a nightmare, children dashing across the road to spend their dinner money on God knows what at Tescos. Who will accept the blame for the first child that will be killed or injured. The Council have a DUTY OF CARE towrds the citizens of Hull and that includes children. At the moment the Building Schools for the Future organisation are offering 'carrots' to parents. I went to one of their meetings and I can categarically state that 90% of those who attended were agaist the school. Last August th BSF tried to get planning permission to build the school on the playing fields and it was totally rejected by the planning committee, they are now submitting new plans and unless the public rise up and register their objections yet again we will lose the PRINCESS ELIZABETH PLAYING FIELDS.”

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    by angry resident, Beverley Ward

    Wednesday, May 20 2009, 7:50PM

    “Need I ask where this reporter obtained her information? I don't think so! It is full of bunkum.

    For one thing over 200 people signed a petition against this academy being built on the PEPF last August and these same people are still against using this covenanted green fill land which is also a natural aquagreen.

    To take this green space the council must compensate the public with equal or better green space according to the national Planning Policy Guidance 17. They are unable to fulfil this requirement.

    The Sir Henry Cooper land belongs to East Riding Council and is leased. Hull CC simply cannot offer this leased land to the people of Hull to compensate for covenanted land which already belongs to the people of Hull.

    Now, just how many attended these consulation meetings. Did the reporter? At the first one everyone was against the build and at another two only a couple of people attended. So tell me Miss Reporter just how many attended each meeting?

    I don't know of anyone whose home borders the PEPF who is in favour of building on it.

    Tescos on Beverley/Hall Road is an identified MI5 terrorist target and that was part of the reason their extension plans were rejected. this fact was reported in the Hull Daily Mail on 11 December 2008. Yet Hull City Council are prepared to build a school of over 1,300 pupils in the same area.

    Why is this? Oh yes, they have to meet their deadline of June 2009 so maybe that's why they have not considered the risk. Targets are more important or they will lose their bonus or whatever.”

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    by Chris, Hull

    Wednesday, May 20 2009, 2:30PM

    “What I am reading here the consultation was the largest that has taken place in the Northern Area. Last time people in that clutch around Tesco said they were not consulted and no one received the leaflets now to make sure everyone did know and could go to an event which the council was accused of not offering last time. Everyone was sent letters and booklets a total of 21 sepereate events 10 in the afternoon 11 in the evening with plenty of warning and what are people saying you consulted too much. I find this strange, it beats me how it could have been done fairer giving everyone involved a chance to take part, to give opinions what more could the council have done! Apart from walking away and leaving you all alone and not bother with a school for northern Hull and giving the £400 milion back to the government.”

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    by robin, Hull

    Wednesday, May 20 2009, 1:20PM

    “I would point out that our sitting MP has just returned £1000 expenses she claimed "in error" for her windows.

    As you have suggested I will write to Humberside Police and ask if charges of malfeasance in public office, accounting fraud, theft from the public purse, possibly treason, should be laid at her door.

    I will also bring the matter to the attention of HMRC to ensure that the correct taxes have been paid to cover all of her expenses claims.

    On the matter of expenses I'll point out that I worked freelance for many years, every item I claimed was subject to a review by HMRC, they would decide if an item, say four nights B&B while working away was taxable. It's pretty galling to be told that working 200 miles away from home, staying in the cheapest B&B you can find, is a "benefit" and having to then pay for it out of earned income! Then you see the MPs with their snouts in the trough claiming left right and centre for everything every last freelancer, contractor, independent, employee, or other category of employment gets nailed to the wall for claiming, have their claim denied, and then be fined for the privilege. Not frivolous items like windows, but keeping a roof over your head, food, travel expenses, specialist clothing, computers and software in my case, and so on and so on.

    You're sitting in a fantasy land, responding with over the top vitriolic comments. I suspect you well have a Common Purpose link with the established leaders in our region and are acting as an agent provocateur.”

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