Decisions on new academy set to come under spotlight
EDUCATION leaders will be put on the spot this week when they are quizzed about controversial plans for a new academy school.
The scrutiny meeting will examine some of the key reasons behind why Stoke-on-Trent City Council chose the Springfield site, off Anchor Road, Adderley Green, as its preferred location for the new 20:20 Discovery Academy.
Just days ago, an outline planning application to build the academy on this site was thrown out, although the council is considering resubmitting revised proposals in the New Year.
Families in Adderley Green have been campaigning against the planned site for the school, because it would swallow up community green space.
They also claim pupils would have to walk along dangerous roads to get to the proposed site and that the development would create traffic chaos.
The academy is set to replace both Edensor Technology College in Longton and Mitchell Business and Enterprise College in Bucknall.
Residents in the Bentilee area have been fighting to get a new school built on the Mitchell site instead. Now the council's children and young people's overview and scrutiny committee will meet on Wednesday to discuss the community concerns.
Councillor Denver Tolley, member for Longton North, pictured left, has asked the committee to look at several points, including what options were considered for selecting a site and what consultation was carried out.
2 Comments
by Lee, Longton
Wednesday, December 16 2009, 6:13PM
“I agree with what paul says about the children from mitchell but what about the children from edensor ,why dont the council leave both schools how they are and use the money too upgrade the facilities they already have.”
by Paul, Bucknall
Monday, December 14 2009, 8:56PM
“Lets hope that this time they will find a way of coming to the obvious and build the new school where the peoople of the area want it.
On the Mitchell site.
If they build it any further away from homes of pupils who currently go to Mitchell, they will have no school to go to.
Although other surrounding schools are expected to extend their catchment area's they are already full?
Do us and yourselves a favour and build the school where it belongs' ON THE MITCHELL SITE'”