CHIGWELL: New school plans cause concern to neighbours

5:00pm Friday 3rd September 2010

By Edmund Tobin

PLANS for a new school in an already busy high road have drawn concerns over traffic and noise, and raised health and safety issues.

Chigwell School, in Chigwell High Road, wants to expand Grange Court, opposite its campus, and convert it into a new pre-prep school from its current status as a boarding house.

But the idea of more pupils in the area has drawn objections from neighbours, and raised concerns over highways problems.

Maureen Tovey, 74, of next door Kings Mews, said: “It's a close here and we're going to get all the noise.

“It's already a very busy road in the mornings. We've got a nursery across the road, the school and a primary school further along. We have got two restaurants and they park all up the pavements already. When you walk up there you have to go on to the road because you can't get past the cars on the pavement.

“It's not right. This is a very quiet mews. I think everyone here has objected.”

Parish council planning committee chairman Richard Alvin said: “To be perfectly honest the siteing of the scheme and movement of over 100 children using a walking bus is quite laughable at best. It's very dangerous and a very ill-thought out scheme.

“We've had a lot of feedback from residents and I don't think a single one has been in support of it."

He added proposed alterations to the 18th century building, which is grade II* listed would almost certainly not make it past English Heritage

Councillor Brian Sandler said: “There's been numerous complaints from everyone in the area. They don't want a High Road with more people and more parking.

“When you consider it, Chigwell School is a stunning place with so many acres of land. Why can't they just build it on their own grounds?

Chigwell School headmaster Michael Punt said the new pre-prep school would accomodate around 100 children aged five to seven.

He said: “I think we have dealt with any problems. We can keep the traffic impact to a minimum. A lot of people will be existing families dropping their children off at Chigwell School anyway

"We've had lots and lots of interest from families who would like their children to come. About 40 per cent are likely to have brothers and sisters already at the school. Many children are disrupted by moving at the ages of seven and 11, and one of the reasons we're doing this is to keep families together.”