Alcester Grammar increased places question

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serendippyty
Posts: 352
Joined: Tue Mar 03, 2009 8:23 pm

Alcester Grammar increased places question

Post by serendippyty »

In our local paper this week, it says local councillors and residents have objected to proposals by AGS to build, to enable them to increase their capacity starting with 30 more places in Sept. It says they have urged them to reconsider. Does this mean the 30 extra places this year are not yet guaranteed or are they talking about another 30 on top of that? Does anyone know?
Okanagan
Posts: 1706
Joined: Mon Aug 22, 2011 9:20 pm
Location: Warwickshire

Re: Alcester Grammar increased places question

Post by Okanagan »

I'd think they'd have difficulty in removing the extra 30 for this year at this stage - all the data transfer between schools, other LEAs etc having already happened (see pages 12-13 of this document.

It could affect whether they could continue with the extra places though as they'd ultimately need additional capacity throughout the school as the additional entrants move up.

News reports:

http://myalcester.co.uk/?p=1330
Parking an issue as school looks to build new blockPosted on Jan. 24
PARKING problems and bus issues need to be addressed if councillors are to support a plan for a new teaching block at Alcester Grammar School.

Details of the new three-story building were presented to Alcester Town Council’s latest planning committee prompting a site visit to the Birmingham Road school.

The new building would include nine classrooms, two science laboratories and two food technology classrooms and would be built on part of the school’s tennis courts.

Parking issues have long since been a problem for the school, particularly at the conclusion of the school day when a number of busses also try to access the site.

Councillors Chris Gough, John Bunting and Clive Neal-Sturgess visited the site last Friday morning.

In their statement to Stratford District Council, who will decide whether to grant planning permission, they said they had no objection to the development itself, and their issues were solely the transport arrangements of the school.

“It is considered that the transport plans included in the Design and Access Statement do not adequately address the parking and traffic flows that have caused problems for many years for the residents and will be exacerbated by the expansion of the school,” they said.

“It is considered that a new transport plan is required addressing the on-street parking and a managed transport plan for the bus access, including adequate safety arrangements for the students.”

A number of local residents have also raised objections especially regarding sixth-form students parking cars in the roads surrounding the school.

Alcester Grammar School principal Iain Blaikie would not be drawn on whether the school would change their plans.

“It would not appropriate at this stage in the process for me to comment on the submissions of other parties, including the council,” he said.

The plans will be considered at a forthcoming Stratford District Council (West) planning meeting.


http://www.redditchstandard.co.uk/2013/02/14/news-Concern-over-school's-expansion-plans-62694.html

Concern over school's expansion plans
Friday 08 February 2013
A TOP performing school in Alcester has announced plans to increase in size to take on more students.

But residents and councillors have called for a re-think over proposals by Alcester Grammar School as they fear an increase in pupils will result in more vehicles dropping off and picking up students leading to dangerous parking and traffic safety issues.

The Birmingham Road school wants to construct a new three storey building which includes science labs and classrooms to allow for an increase in pupil numbers, starting with an extra 30 places from September.

Alcester Town councillors have objected to the plans claiming they do not address parking and traffic issues outside of the school.

A statement from the council said: "It is considered a new Transport Plan is required addressing the on-street parking, and a managed transport plan for the bus access, including adequate safety arrangements for the students."

A Ragley Mill Lane resident added: "Currently there is already a problem, the entrance to what is the Old Mill at the end of Ragley Mill Lane is increasingly blocked with cars making it difficult for residents to enter their own driveway. Vehicles turning is an issue too."

But principal Iain Blaikie said demand for pupil places was growing and the expansion was necessary.

Currently over 1,000 students a year apply to the school which is ranked 30th nationally for its GCSE results. Last year there were 500 applications alone for students wanting to enter Year 12, despite the entire sixth form only having capacity for 550 pupils.

"We are a very popular school, not just in our town but also for neighbouring areas. A lot of students want to come here and we want to provide them with the opportunity to do so," Mr Blaikie said.

He added he was aware of concerns about increased traffic but they were working hard to combat them.

"We are only busy during school registration times and at the end of the day, and we do try to minimise problems by having a very long drive which the buses come down to drop off and collect children."

Stratford District Council is due to decide on the application by March. If approved work could start around Easter.


The application is for "a new 3-storey teaching block (Comprising: 9 classrooms and associated preparation/office accommodation and observatory); relocation of sports courts together with associated works including installation of plant equipment, new car parking (6 spaces) and landscaping works." You can see the various comments by following the link and clicking on "Associated Documents".
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