Agenda item

To construct a permanent classroom building to replace existing portacabins and provision of a new pedestrian access at Wygate Foundation Nursery School, Woolram Wygate, Spalding - H16-0970-18

Minutes:

Paul Sharman, representing the applicant, commented as follows:-

 

·       The Nursery was a registered Charity with a Voluntary Management Committee run from within the Spalding Primary School grounds since year 2000, and was currently rated as ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted, with only 3 part time spaces available for this coming September 2019 intake.

·       Had been involved with the setting from the start and worked in partnership with the Primary School, sharing the wonderful resource and grounds the site offered.

·       The current mobile classrooms had been occupied for the past 15 years and at the last renewal of planning permission for the temporary buildings, South Holland District Council had made it clear that the nursery should look to find a permanent home as they did not intend to renew again. The plans today formed the nursery's exit strategy and the nursery had been budgeting accordingly for many years with this move in mind.

·       The nursery provided a much needed asset to the local community and to lose it would cause a gap in sufficiency in the Wygate area of Spalding, for which the Local Authority had responsibility for.

·       The concerns raised during the consultation had been addressed and the Travel Plan combined with 6 additional parking spaces within the school grounds went some way to addressing the concerns raised regarding inconsiderate parking in the surrounding streets. The concerns were recognised and the nursery continued to educate parents about this matter. However, this problem was not unique to the Wygate area of Spalding.

·       It was proposed to provide additional trees and shrubs to compensate for those lost from the garden area within the school grounds during the relocation. It should be noted that none of the mature trees forming the eastern boundary were to be felled.

·       It should be stressed that the proposals were not about increasing numbers on site but moving to a permanent building offering an enhanced learning environment for the nursery children, it would remove the largest mobile classrooms from the site and would additionally free up some much needed hard surface playground area for the pupils of the primary school.

·       The school site would see a significant reduction in numbers from its current 480 to 450 in September 2019 and a further reduction to 420 in September 2020 plus the associated reduction in teaching and support staff.

·   Approval of the proposals would be a real boon for the nursery and the primary school and would guarantee the future of this much needed and highly valued provision in Wygate area of Spalding.

 

Paul Sharman responded to questions from members stating that it was not proposed to increase the numbers of staff at the Nursery and that of the 36 car park spaces available for the 60 staff, 6 nursery staff were able to use the car park.

 

 

 

Comments by members included:-

 

·   The nursery and school were well supported by the community. However, residents had concerns about irresponsible parking especially over driveways.

·   There needed to be an improved Travel Plan for the school and nursery.

·   There needed to be more yellow lines put down by highways to prevent irresponsible parking.

·   The new replacement building to replace the portacabins was required.

·   A busy road was located near to the school and nursery.

·   There were now more cars on the roads than in the past.

·   There was a need to know who was parking irresponsibly and, hopefully, not staff from the school or nursery.

·   Car parking near schools was a countywide problem.

·   The school and nursery needed to work in cooperation with local residents.

·   The County Council was currently seeking the views of the public on its Transport Strategy and residents were encouraged to respond to this consultation.

 

On a motion by Councillor T R Ashton, seconded by Councillor D McNally, it was –

 

RESOLVED (unanimous)

 

That planning permission be granted subject to the conditions detailed in the report.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supporting documents:

 

 
 
dot

Original Text: