Friday 3 May 2013

“Why is the Council seizing much more land than it needs to build school on Lake Farm?"

The Council is being forced to consult on how much land it is
appropriating to build a new school Botwell Common and Lake Farm. In the
consultation papers it is revealed that the Council is seizing at least
50% more land than it originally said it needed in its planning
application for the new school.

Local MP, John McDonnell, commented "The only reason the council is
trying to seize so much more land is that it must have a hidden agenda
to build on more of our country park. Is there a hidden plan for housing
or a secondary school on the park or both? Are we witnessing another
sell off and asset stripping exercise in the south of the borough by
these Uxbridge and Ruislip councillors? We are demanding answers."

Guru Nanak's New Primary School Plans Means Council Has No Need to Build on Lake Farm

Guru Nanak School has now applied to the Council to build a new fourth
form of entry primary school on its site in the same ward as the council
plans to build a school on Botwell Common and Lake farm.

The pupils that have been accepted to attend the new Guru Nanak Primary
School are overwhelmingly drawn from the local Hayes area.

The new school is to be built on the existing school site surrounded by
existing school buildings and although technically on green belt land,
it is land not open to the public and not in the country park area.

Local MP John McDonnell commented

"I am reluctant to see any area of green belt built upon but allowing
this school to go ahead on land that is already on the school site,
surrounded by school buildings, is inaccessible to the general public
and not in a country park, means that the council has no need to build
on our Botwell Common and Lake Farm country park. This development could
save our country park. I am urging the council even at this late stage
to drop its plans to destroy Botwell Common and Lake Farm Country Park.
This new school means that there will be enough school places in the
area. There is now simply no need to destroy our park. To press ahead
now means that the Council must have a hidden agenda for the Lake Farm
site."