Save our lavender campaign is a success

Supporters of the Carshalton lavender field are rejoicing after council bosses announced plans to drop the site as a potential location for the new Stanley Park High School.

The news comes as the Sutton Guardian campaign to save the field reached its climax and a 1,000 signature petition was handed to Sutton Council.

Alistair Cruickshank, chair of Carshalton Lavender, said: "It's excellent news. We are very grateful to the Sutton Guardian for their support. It's made a big difference.

"I think it's an enormous relief - the people here are very, very happy. The future here looks good and the field can go on prospering.

"It just shows what a big degree of support there is for the field. Lavender has caught people's imagination and the idea of losing it is dreadful."

Council officers have recommended that the Stanley Park allotment site, which includes the lavender field, and the Bibra site off Woodmansterne Road, be ruled out.

They also recommend the Orchard Hill site be put forward for a feasibility study and say the existing school site should be kept as a possible option.

Reasons for not building on the allotments and lavender field include the planning difficulties arising from its status as statutory allotments and designated green space.

Council officers also say the building on the field would have a detrimental impact on the lavender farm and contradict the council's own policy on environmental sustainability.

Sarah Bell, assistant editor of the Sutton Guardian, said: "Thanks to the residents of Sutton the council has finally seen sense and ditched the idea of building on a priceless piece of local heritage and successful community project.

"We felt something needed to be done to preserve the field and residents clearly felt the same, as we were inundated with petition forms.

"Our campaign has been an example of how residents can really make things happen."

The strategy committee is due to meet on Monday, April 16, to consider the officer's recommendations.

Deputy leader of the council, Colin Hall, said: "It's valuable information for us when we are considering all the options.

"On Monday the strategy committee will be considering the options on all of the sites and your campaign is very helpful for us in the that process."

Click here to read the stories from the campaign.