As I stated at the council meeting on 10th September, Merton faces a growing demand for school places. Free schools, such as the recently opened Park Community School in Morden, provide an opportunity to address this demand as part of an overall package for increasing school places. It is therefore both disappointing and worrying for our children that Labour refuse to support more free schools; they are putting ideology before educational opportunity.
The growing need for school places in the borough has to be met. This is especially the case in areas where large housing projects are being proposed. Bordering Dundonald Ward, there are extensive plans to convert the Rainbow Industrial Estate into a large housing development. These plans should not go ahead unless provisions are also made to meet the inevitable increased local demand for school places.
The expansion of Dundonald Primary is a distraction from the main issue. The demand for places cannot be met by just cramming more children into existing schools; the local area needs more schools. The Cabinet Member for Education, Councillor Martin Whelton, needs to make every effort to identify a site for a new school (indeed, Dundonald councillors have already proposed one).
Inviting free school providers into Merton will allow us to meet the need for a new school. The ideological objections of Labour councillors to free schools should not be allowed to further jeopardise educational provision for children in this borough.
Conservative Councillor Michael Bull
Dundonald Ward
- Send your letters to: letters@wimbledonguardian.co.uk
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