Angry protestors opposed to Lambeth Council’s plans to build an academy on the site of a Tulse Hill primary school vented their anger at a meeting on Wednesday night.
Parents with children at Fenstanton Primary school in Christchurch Road, teachers, and residents of the St Martin’s estate held up signs stating “No Academy” as one of the protestors, Chioma Ebilah, criticised the council’s cabinet for pursuing the plans.
She said: “This proposal will have a tremendous bearing on the community and residents for years to come.”
Teachers fear building an academy next to Fenstanton will delay rebuilding the primary school and it losing playspace, while parents are concerned of the impact of the changes on their children.
Residents of the estate are concerned about loss of green space, the impact on the environment of a large academy, and increased traffic.
But Paul McGlone, cabinet member for children and young people, said while he was aware of parents concerns, children should not be demonised and the council was committed to building a school which the borough badly needed, and Fenstanton School site was the largest in the borough.
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