New science block planned for Compton school
Plans get green light despite planning officers' recommendations for refusal
WEST Berkshire district councillors have blasted their own council's education and planning departments over a lack of communication regarding an application for a new £4.9m science block at The Downs School in Compton.
Planning officers recommended that the two-storey building, which will include 12 laboratories, should be refused because it would have a “demonstrable” effect on the North Wessex Downs, an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Yet at a recent meeting of the Western Area Planning Committee (December 8), councillors voted in favour of the application by seven votes to three.
The committee was, however, unanimous in its criticism of both the council's education and planning department for a lack of communication when drawing up the plans.
Anthony Stansfeld (Con, Kintbury), who voted in favour of the application, said he found it “extraordinary” that the council's education and science departments were at loggerheads over the development.
Julian Swift-Hook (Lib Dem, Greenham), who voted against, added: “This is not the first time we've had an issue with education bringing plans late in the day or incomplete. There seems to be a feeling that because it's education it's alright.”
The council's development control team leader, Derek Carnegie admitted he was “embarrassed” by the situation but stood by planning officers' recommendations to refuse the application, a view shared by the National Association for Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
The science block, which has a pitched roof, will be situated at the site of the old sixth form block, set back four metres from the main road from Compton to Hampstead Norreys.
Headteacher of The Downs School, Valerie Houldey told the Western Area Planning Committee this was the only site for the development unless the school built on its sports fields.
She said: “Ofsted in 2004 said science facilities were inadequate and now there are 300 students at the school. The consequence is that science is taught in rooms all over the school. Some A-Level classes are not taught in laboratories at all.”
George Chandler (Con, Downlands) added: “The development is on a brownfield site. It's in keeping and is compact.
“I think it's a reasonable proposal when you consider the site as a whole.”
Despite planning permission being granted, a construction start date is dependent on Government funding, which the district council is expected to find out in the next two months.