I DID attend the meeting where the plans were displayed. 1.As others have commented, there are as yet NO plans made for how to get children across the North Circular, the road being already very congested (as down to one lane) and two sets of lights already in operation (at Madeley Rd crossing and pedestrian lights within yards. Note there is already a lot of pedestrian traffic at the Madeley Rd lights as Ellen Wilkinson School is just west of the junction. If HALF the children for the new school cross the North Circular at that point you are adding 700 children. (Half as the school it theoretically accepting children from 0.9 miles so presumably half will come from the West).2, Adding to the congestion problems on the North Circular Rd also increases pollution as cars will be stationary or crawling for longer on the long climb up Hangar Hill.4.There is also no possibility for a bus stop (North bound) next to the school unless the traffic is stopped on the North Circular for people to get on or off. So children travelling from the south by bus will have to come from the bus stop south of the Madeley Rd junction and cross that junction, another source of traffic delay and possible accident.3. Parking: The assumption is that little parking will be needed near the school as all children who attend will do so from within a 0.9 mile radius (of St Peter's Church Mount Park RD!!! not of the school itself half a mile away as crow flies - why is this?) therefore no parking provision. But no thought given to parking on open days, sports days, parents' evenings, evening classes etc.5. With the proposed changes to the CPZ so that parking becomes open to others than residents, it seems likely that commuters will be lining the adjacent roads and it will become difficult to park anyway, and impossible to navigate.Currently Park Rd, Woodville Gardens and Woodville Rd are used as a cut through from Hangar Lane to Haven Green. Some of this traffic is very fast and aggressive and the traffic calming measures in place are ineffective. Cyclists sometimes also travel down these residential roads at inappropriate speeds, and being silent present a hazard to pedestrians.6.I also object to the school being labelled C of E. This is divisive, even if as I was told at the meeting, children of all faiths can attend, the implication is that this is a sectarian school. I personally believe the State should not sponsor any faith schools - all children should mix irrespective of labels of any kind or they will grow up thinking others are different to themselves.7. I assume that thought has been given to emergency services access in the unlikely event of a fire etc? If access not possible from the North Circular can fire engines reach the back of the site (North Circular side)?8. It is to be hoped the rest of the Barclay's site will be opened up for sporting facilities or as a green space for all to enjoy. If not, is it planned to allow housing on the site? Has that been factored in to the planning for access/parking etc?.
Barbara Dore ● 2489d