Must house be demolished for school growth in Bournemouth? (From Bournemouth Echo)

Must house be demolished for school growth in Bournemouth?

8:00am Thursday 1st July 2010 in

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ANGRY residents are questioning the need to demolish a Victorian villa and cut down 29 trees in the heart of a conservation area – to make way for extra classrooms that they believe are not required.

Last week’s planning board voted by five votes to four in favour of extending St Michael’s Primary on Bournemouth’s West Cliff.

But a linked application to demolish 2 Somerville Road to make room for the development was rejected and will now be decided by the full council on July 27.

The former hotel was turned into flats six years ago.

A deputation of residents is expected to attend the meeting and more than 200 have signed a petition to try and halt the demolition and the loss of protected trees, which include a 100-year-old beech tree and a large Monterey pine.

One resident, who asked not to be named, said: “I don’t think the process has been very democratic.

“A meeting was called on the worst night of the winter to make people aware of what was going on at the school.

“Six people turned up.

“We asked for another meeting, but were told ‘no’.

“There’s been an assumption that planning permission will be granted.

“The council bought the freehold (of number 2) and six families left their homes.

“Councillors seem to take the view that there’s an overwhelming need for expansion, but almost 40 per cent of the pupils come from outside the catchment area.

“We need to provide more school places in the borough, but not here.”

The council says all this September’s intake is expected to come from the catchment area.

Cllr Nicola Greene, cabinet member for culture and school development, said in a statement: “An unprecedented rise in the birth rate in the town has meant the council has needed to find more primary places year on year, with particular pressure on the centre and south-east of the borough.

“Public consultation showed support for our proposed school expansions.”

The Bournemouth birth rate in 2008 was the highest for more than 30 years.

Immigration and the recession – with fewer parents paying for private education – are also increasing pressure on state schools.