It seems that once again those in authority have put money above the views of the people. Is that all those in power think about these days? How to save a few quid.
I'm absolutely disgusted that our time had been wasted going to meetings and protests only for those who make the decissions to take absolutely no notice. Democracy? You can stuff it! I hope the local authority are pleased with themselves. at least I know who not to vote for in the next local elections. I think we all need to take a good look at how the money they make from the sale of the school land will be spent.
Well if anyone says this was not a forgone conclusion are lying, at least 5 years ago I heard the rumour that Sunnybank was closing, but I still choose to send my children to this wonderful school, even though I have to walk a considerable distance. I do not want my child to go to Cranbourne as I feel his education will suffer - but what are we to do?
Still in a state of complete shock.
I know we were in the right, our arguements were compelling and the hard work and dedication of all connected to this fight was nothing short of awesome.
We did everything that could possibly be done, proving our case again and again. I cannot understand how this decision has been made, it flies in the face of all reason and leaves a highly unsavoury smell of collusion at high levels hanging in the air.
You're right. We should burn money on excess school places.
jaf Wrote:You're right. We should burn money on excess school places.
I don't think that's the point.
The reason people are cross and upset is because is a well known secret that the local authorities made this decision before they started a so called consultation, and when it finally seemed there was hope at the adjudication (remember
only 1 party voted for the closure) the final decision left them feeling insignificant and ignored.
Its much like the road charging petition. Downing Street decide to 'get people more involved' with politics by offering a petition place on their website, and its fine if the petitions go the way they want, but when they are opposed, the plan becomes a disaster, and the public are belittled.
We should have known. The contempt and disdain we have all been held in starts at the very top of government. We were naive enough to to think those further down the trough would be different. Sadly we were mistaken. The best thing for Sunny Bank is for Mr. Hooper to tell the children (the older ones who will understand what's going on) exactly how democracy works in this country. Probably one of the best lessons the kids will ever learn.
I posted
here that the decision was made in, or before, 2002. Decisions like this generally are.
Someone did ask me in that thread whether the person who told me this would come forward. Unfortunately they know how the system works (having worked for the council) and weren't prepared for the stress. Unfortunate yes, but in reality they knew it was a waste of time.
So SBS closes. Elsewhere on this site someone said the land was valued at £3.2M. That's poppycock. Many of you are no doubt aware of the sale of the catholic church on Southgate Road. That site was sold for £2.7M. Let's see now.... site is on a main road, virtually sitting on the M25... what's a piece of land worth tucked away down some back road. For the same size plot in Sunnybank it would be worth £500K more at least. SBS with land must be worth at least £10M.
Ah! I know. Let's build more houses! More Families come to Potters Bar. Oh... we've run out of Primary School places.....
Now I'm not totally naive. SBS has 420 places but only 225 odd of them filled, so yes questions do need to be asked. But it was all a bit one sided.
If we don't like what's happened we need to let them know come the next council elections......
Could someone post the names of the councilers who are responsible for this situation, so we can show them how our democracy works come election time!
People may be upset for a lot of reasons, but whatever and however they decided to close whichever school people would find a reason to cry foul. Fact is there are too many places and that equates to a waste of money. I'm glad they shut the school.
Jaf, let me guess that you have no children of school age. In fact I would say you don't have children at all?
SBS had almost 200 spaces empty, yes something had to be done about this. What a shame that the alternatives weren't properly investigated.
SBS has approx 225 children between the ages of 5-11 years old. That's an awful lot of Potters Bar children that will have servere disruption to their primary education, does that make you feel good? Remember that todays Children are our Future tomorrow.
Perhaps you prefer the council to spend their money on more deserving projects like..... supplying bins for plastic/tins with no lids so when we have a bit of wind on collection day the whole of Potters Bar is awash with plactic bottles been blown everywhere...... Perhaps you preferred it when the council spend money "improving" the Mutton Lane/Baker Street junction.....
Jaf. Where's your community spirit? Or perhaps you don't think it's good to have one of them?
jaf Wrote:People may be upset for a lot of reasons, but whatever and however they decided to close whichever school people would find a reason to cry foul. Fact is there are too many places and that equates to a waste of money. I'm glad they shut the school.
Closing SBS and selling the land for housing redevelopment (I imagine as the roads are too narrow for big business,) will mean more families, many with children. Will you be happy when the council spend twice as much of your money as they're making from the sale of SBS land building a new school in a few years time. Unfortunately "We told you so" won't make us feel any better.
This decision is very shortsighted by the council (who look at things in four year cycles).
I expect that JAF has no children as he seems to have no care for community spirit - or perhaps he can afford to send his children to a private school. I am glad that there are not many around like JAF!!!
I have two children and both are of school age. I have plenty of community spirit. What I do not have is a bottomless pit of money to pay for useless services, such as a half empty school. Face facts, a school had to close. It's a shame it was yours, but whichever school closed it would have been a shame and there were good reasons to pick Sunny Bank. People move house all the time and the children move schools, so I doubt there will be any serious disruption to the children's education. If the parents weren't getting them worked up I doubt they'd care overly.
jaf Wrote:I have two children and both are of school age. I have plenty of community spirit. What I do not have is a bottomless pit of money to pay for useless services, such as a half empty school. Face facts, a school had to close. It's a shame it was yours, but whichever school closed it would have been a shame and there were good reasons to pick Sunny Bank. People move house all the time and the children move schools, so I doubt there will be any serious disruption to the children's education. If the parents weren't getting them worked up I doubt they'd care overly.
Sorry Jaf but I don't believe you have children, as quite frankly you don't have a very caring spirit.
People certainly don't move all the time, take a look around you at the amount of people extending. If people do move they tend to stay in the same area, therefore no need to move schools.
Moving a child of primary school age can have a serious disruption on their education.
Strange you didn't comment on my concerns about the waste of money spent on the mutton ln/Baker St junction.
If you care that much about council resources perhaps you could tell me how many more council employees (% wise) there are now than there was 5 years ago.
To come on here and state that you are glad a primary school in your local area will be shut directly affecting the education of in excess of 200 5-11 year olds is pitiful in my book.
Then again perhaps you're just a troll?
I have two children and if you are unable to debate a point with someone who disagrees with you without calling then a liar then I have a very low opinion of your ability to sustain a logical chain of thought long enough to come to a reasoned conclusion. Nor do I appreciate being called a troll just because my opinions happen to differ from yours.
I am not glad the the school is closing, I am glad that the council is not going to continue to waste money to keep a half open school open when there are spare places at other schools. The council will continue to waste money in droves, but that is not a good reason to continue wasting money on having too many places. 200 children will be affected but not in any traumatic way. They will move to new schools and make new friends. Exactly like they will do again when they move to secondary school.
The council made up its mind to close the school before it ever went into a sham of consultation. But the parents at all of the schools mentioned did not listen to any arguments and decided that their school must not be affected before they ever thought about the facts.
Too many paces wastes money. Tax is too high as it is and cutting waste is a good thing. Sorry it had to be your school.