Merstham primary school could open by 2014
A NEWLY built primary school could open in the borough within three years.
Surrey County Council has confirmed it is close to securing a site for a school in Battlebridge Lane, Merstham, which could ease a places crisis.
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A new primary school could be built on this site in Battlebridge Lane in Merstham
The school would be built on land near the junction with London Road South – currently home to the Battlebridge Skate Park – have two classes for every year group, and could open by September 2014.
The neighbouring recreation ground, which is protected by a covenant, would be used by pupils during the school day.
County council education chief Tim Hall said: "We are in serious negotiations with the Diocese of Southwark [which owns the land] and we are very optimistic.
"A lot of work, like the topographical study, has been completed. The feasibility study is being done by property people from Hampshire County Council [which has been contracted to help increase capacity] as we speak.
"I am very hopeful. It does appear to be in the right place. We are very optimistic it will make a big difference."
The Redhill and Reigate area is suffering from a severe shortage of permanent primary places, partly a knock-on effect from a huge rise in the borough's birth rate.
The county council itself has been predicting acute school place shortages, and calling for a new school, every year since 2008.
Schools have been strained to capacity, with a number being forced to take on multiple "bulge" years – extra classes in extra classrooms tacked onto playgrounds.
Parents in Merstham said more school places are desperately needed.
Hayley Young, 33, who has a five-year-old daughter and a two-year-old son, said: "We need it around here, and children in Redhill do too. I know of people who have children in different schools – it's ridiculous. It causes so much stress, so this is definitely good news."
Michelle Wild, 42, of Nutfield Road, whose six-year-old daughter goes to Furzefield Primary School, said: "A school in Battlebridge Lane would have been much better for us.
"There are a lot of kids coming into the schools here, so it is a very good idea, and very needed."
Danielle Rogers' seven-year-old daughter India was initially offered a school in Epsom Downs, seven miles from the family's Reigate home, last September.
Mrs Rogers, 36, home-schooled India until a place became available at Reigate Priory School.
She said: "Merstham is probably a good place for a school – for us it would have been a huge preference over Epsom. "
The deadline for applications for September's intake closed on Sunday. Mr Hall said numbers could be slightly up, but promised the council was now better prepared.
Wray Common Primary in Reigate, Furzefield Primary in Merstham, and Earlswood Infants, all of which took an extra class in 2011, are scheduled to take another in 2012.
4 Comments
by jojoe79
Monday, January 30 2012, 5:06AM
“Battlebridge park is the only bit of green space left in this area, it is used by children, who run, play and cycle there, joggers, the athletics and football clubs, skateboarders and dog walkers. There is nowhere else for local people to go if this protected area of green belt land is given the go ahead for development into a school. Houses and flats in the area have small or non-existent gardens, and to be able to go and use the park for recreation is really important to so many people. We moan about kids today playing computer games and watching tv all day, and yet we build on areas like this, where they can play football, cycle or skate and get some exercise and fresh air.
On top of this the roads around this area are already congested with traffic at peak times a school here would make congestion even worse – with the pollution that brings with it. There is also nowhere for potential parents and staff to park, meaning that the local residential roads will become even more choked up with parked cars.
There must be a better place for a school than this – it is a protected Green Belt site – does this mean nothing?”
by skrivener
Friday, January 27 2012, 7:31PM
“It is a shock that our council is attempting to purchase a quite popular public park with full greenbelt protection and then fence it in & concrete over it.
I can't help wondering if this apparent contempt is just reserved for Merstham & Redhill? Would the council honestly suggest building on parks in other parts of our borough? Have they also considered concreting Reigate Priory Park or parks in our more leafy suburbs?
The cramped, high density housing that is being inflicted on Redhill means that many new families can barely aspire to a balcony or a garage size garden to play in. Gardenless flats in Redhill are on the market this year with such cramped living space they would be considered illegal for human habitation if constructed in some Europeans countries. Redhill already has poor and limited outdoor facilities and I suggest needs it's parks far more than greener, more affluent areas.”
by skrivener
Friday, January 27 2012, 7:27PM
“Green belt protection was specifically designed to stop developers from joining our towns up in a continous urban sprawl. The legislation was suppost to provide a tool that would allow councils to fight developers trying to do this.
How ironic it is to find our own council quietly planning to build on the only two fields that now provide the token green seperatation between Redhill and Merstham. (a school on one & it's recreational infatructure on the other)”
by scotto65
Sunday, January 22 2012, 4:52PM
“What a great place for a school !
The traffic in the mornings from 7:45 to 9:00 is bumper to bumper from Coulsdon to Redhill. The pollution levels must be off the scale.
You do wonder what morons at the council consider this a good site for a Primary School, and then spend money on a feasibility study.
Surely a school on Watercolour or Park 25 would be a better option. After all this is where many of the new homes have been built and the children could walk to school, and this would therefore not add to the congestion.”