In her letter of 28th October, (Labour in-fighting has left people scrambling for school places) Shas Sheehan made the absurd claim that Merton’s Labour Council has failed to provide primary school places ‘in the Wimbledon side of the borough.’

This is plainly untrue. In 2010, we promised to provide sufficient places in popular and successful schools as close as possible to where children live.

Unlike the Lib Dems, we keep our promises. We focused the council’s capital budgets and determined on the permanent expansion of primary schools including 10 in the west of the borough: Hollymount, Joseph Hood, Hillcross, All Saints, Merton Abbey, Pelham, Poplar, St Mary’s, Wimbledon Park and Dundonald. This amounts to an extra 2,100 permanent places in the west of the borough, or the equivalent of five new 2-form-entry schools. Contradicting her main argument, Ms Sheehan went on to attack the decision to expand the outstanding Dundonald School. I am proud of the Dundonald proposals that will also replace dilapidated facilities with brand new changing and community rooms, public toilets, an additional tennis court, a new larger public children’s play area, a new nature area and outdoor gym, landscaping and more trees overall, without affecting the rose garden or the main sport pitches.

All in all, Dundonald School will offer an extra 30 places to local children every year and the Rec is about to receive the best new investment in sports and park facilities for a generation. I know from talking to local residents that very many support this project.

Councillor Andrew Judge

Via email 

 

 

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