The dramatic discovery of 20 potential addition car parking spaces for students to help solve the traffic impasse that clogs the streets around St John’s Academy, Marlborough, was revealed last night (Thursday).
They are on an adjacent education facilities building only 200 yards from the proposed new £1.2 million Sixth Form Study Centre which, unless completed by next March, will miss out on state funding.
And attempts are now being made with Wiltshire Council itself, the owner of the site, to secure its parking area to solve the dilemma of 120 additional students arriving at the Centre, where initially only four extra car parking spaces were being offered.
“This is not a done deal yet but there is a good chance that something can be arranged,” announced Councillor Charles Howard, chairman of the Eastern Area Planning Committee.
Parking proposals have already been revised to 15 additional spaces plus a car-sharing scheme for staff and students following mass protests by Marlborough Town Council and residents, while an updated travel plan for the complete St John’s site is prepared in time for the launch next year of the new Centre.
But the potential compromise at the crunch meeting still did not prevent unexpected criticism coming from members of the planning committee as it debated the issues before more than 20 objectors and promoters of the scheme, including three St John’s pupils.
“I really am exceptionally disappointed that an organisation such as this has failed here,” protested Councillor Paul Oatway. “I do expect better.
“The expectation for me of a travel plan to work on in the coming year is for me not good enough. That needs to be brought forward and brought forward quite rapidly in partnership with the Academy.”
He called for Marlborough itself to embrace a residents’ parking scheme to cope with its problems, and added: “There are failings here but there are also positives and I hope we can take advantage of them.”
Criticism came too from Councillor Jerry Kunkler, who proposed planning consent being given to the project, but pointed out: “The ideal situation tonight is for everyone here to walk out with smiling faces, but that is not going to be the case. I share the residents view. They are concerned about extra cars.”
He called for imaginative measures to be taken by using grass verges and waste ground such as the as yet undeveloped tennis courts area at the Academy, to become temporary car parks.
“We can do that without planning permission,” he urged. “Using short term measures is the only sensible way ahead.”
Councillor Richard Gamble, who identified the extra parking space on a visit to the Academy site that morning with Councillor Howard, insisted: “The plan that is in front of us is the plan that is in front of us, and we can only tinker with the edges of it.
“The problems that exist are historical from where the Academy is. We need time to sort it out and the new travel plan will address those issues. My aim has been to provide a little more headroom.
“So I am delighted, subject to there being no planning or legal reasons why it cannot be done, that we can be happy for this additional parking space to be made available to the school on terms to be agreed.”
Nevertheless, persistent pleas were made by Marlborough’s town Wiltshire members, Councillors Nick Fogg and Stewart Dobson, for any additional parking spaces to be a legal requirement of the planning consent to ensure they happened.
While these were rejected, agreement was reached for them to to take part in the new travel plan consultation process.
At the end of the 70-minute debate, Councillor Justin Cook, who had stated Marlborough Town Council’s case, told Marlborough News Online: “It is the obvious outcome, but unless St John’s enforces the new travel plan when we put it together then, as per normal, the school will ride roughshod over the community.
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Views for and against the application
Gordon Hutt, one of the objectors to planning consent being given to the Academy’s £1.2 million Sixth Form Centre development for 120 students, made the vital point before consent was given on Thursday by Wiltshire’s eastern area planning committee. He is a resident of Ducks Meadow, Marlborough, one of the side streets surrounding the Academy, which is invaded by parked students’ cars and has demanded action to put a stop to the parking abuse. “Why we are here is not about the school,” he told Wiltshire councillors. “It is about car parking facilities included in a major investment project and its implications for the community, an investment for a subsidiary business called Excalibur Academies Trust Ltd. “Like any other company it has responsibilities to its stakeholders, its employees, its suppliers and you can think of parents as the suppliers of their children as the raw material here, customers obviously and its investors, taxpayers and fund providers. “In that context the planners have responsibility for the public interest, in particular corporate and social responsibility, especially for a registered charity this includes responsibility for the community in which the business is situated. “It is the responsibility as much as that of the applicant that before approval is given that action is taken to eliminate or minimise any associated risks to the community. “And in this case it is the very measurable risks of disruption caused by excessive, daytime on street parking by students, for whom, by the way, we have considerable sympathy.” This could only be solved, he said, by the provision of adequate parking on site, in this case a minimum of 40 parking places for senior students attending the Academy on a basis of one place for every 10 of the 120 students aged over 17. “We welcome the project,” added Mr Hutt. “But, its title after all is community college – and it needs to address the concerns of the community.” Other representations made to the committee included one by Martin Cook, assistant headteacher at St John’s, who has taught at the school for the past 25 years, and stressed the urgent need to add to its facilities. “It is not surprising that St John’s has become a beacon of excellence for Marlborough and indeed, Wiltshire,” he declared. “But, we live in challenging times. “Our current buildings are fully utilised. Sixth form lessons even occur at lunchtimes and after school and students often use corridors to work in. Up to 15 per cent of our current Year 11s don’t meet the criteria to continue their education at St John’s, therefore having to travel away. “We had 392 applicants for 252 places last year. This new Study Centre will help more local students stay on at the school they have been in for five years.” And he revealed: “Next year, we face a five per cent cut in funding– that’s £350,000. Transitional funding for the Sixth Form will diminish by a further £126 000. St John’s is completely unable to afford the expansion needed to meet growing demand caused by success, increasing population and the policy of all children remaining in full-time education until they are 18. “Children from the Pewsey and Marlborough areas have a fundamental right to access educational provision of the highest possible calibre, close to where they live. “The grant we have been offered, applied for in partnership with St John’s by Wiltshire Council itself, recognises the major need for post-16 education facilities and provides the ability for us to offer local places for local students. “In difficult financial times, to reject a £1.19 million grant, cannot be the right thing to do and I urge you to support our planning application.” Councillor Justin Cook, representing Marlborough Town Council, took a different view on the development of St John’s, which he said he reached a critical mass some time ago with its parking arrangements and failed to take action to prevent an overspill in nearby streets. “Residents suffer traffic congestion, their drives and access ways are blocked and their safety compromised, particularly with regard to access for emergency vehicles,” he complained. “It is disappointing that their needs have not been addressed, especially as this development presented the school with an opportunity for a re-think on a problem that has been worsening for some time.” He suggested that the provision of 15 new parking spaces failed to comply with St John’s own research into the growing number of car-driving students, many of whom came in from neighbouring villages where there was no transport links, or Wiltshire’s own parking strategy. No proper consultation had taken place at any early stage with local residents and, he added: “We all have to live and work together in our fine town and be good neighbours. “That way the school can move ahead, get hold of the grant to build – all with the full support of its neighbouring community.” The youngest advocate to speak was 15-year-old student Ellen Travakiss, who pointed out the problems facing students now obliged to stay at school until 18 and the frustration of not being able to continue their studies at St John’s. “With many of my friends reaching the end of their GSCE exams, it’s sad to say many of them will be leaving St John’s shortly,” she said. “Last year, a huge 15 per cent of Year 11 pupils couldn’t stay on, due to the high standards set by the school, and difficult entry criteria, or simply because the school didn’t offer any appropriate courses for them. “I know a number of people who would have preferred to stay at our school, but simply had no choice. As I’m sure you are all aware, it is now compulsory to stay in some from of higher education up to the age of 18. “So if students cannot stay at their current school, they have to attend a different college rather than leave education and enter employment. This means if students cannot stay at sixth form as they wish, their other options are fairly slim. With the addition of the new Sixth Form Centre, more students would be able to stay on. St John’s is a brilliant school, so of course many people want to stay.” But at present students could only study in a crowded and rowdy space, which was an awful learning environment. “This is our future, the future of myself and my friends,” Ellen declared. “I hope you take that into account in your decision making.” |
What most of the public do not realise is that Marlborough’s St John’s Academy, which has been given “outstanding” status by Ofsted, is now part of a £30 million private company with charitable status that has to serve its stakeholders as well as the community.
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