Controversial primary school expansion plans ‘called in’ by councillor

THE planning application to increase the size of Forest and Sandridge School, which has sparked concerns about its impact on traffic, has been “called in” by a local councillor. 

Instead of the application being considered by a Wiltshire Council case officer, the plans will be discussed by members of the council’s planning committee at a meeting open to the public. 

The application was called in by Wiltshire councillor for the east of Melksham, Mike Sankey, who hopes that if permission for the expansion is agreed, that it be made a condition of the approval that a solution be found for the ongoing traffic concerns. 

Cllr Sankey told Melksham News, “It is my view that the building of the extension ,should it be permitted, could provide the applicant an opportunity to address some of the issues associated with pupil drop off and collection.  

“If permission is granted, addressing those issues at the same time should be a condition.” 

The primary school has submitted a planning application for four additional classrooms, a studio space, additional toilets and breakout rooms, additional outdoor hard surfacing, and a remodelled nursery.  

The expansion will support the school to increase its reception intake from 60 to 75 from September 2022. The reception intake increase will result in a “small and gradual” growth of the school in the following years, which currently has approximately 420 pupils.  

The proposal has been criticised by neighbouring residents, who have said that the current road infrastructure, school drop-off area and limited available parking – which they say is already ‘extremely congested’ and ‘dangerous’ – will be unable to cope with the additional traffic. 

And there has been criticism of Wiltshire Council for allowing the school to be built in the first place, without sufficient access and consideration for future growth of the school. 

“The inescapable fact is that Wiltshire Council (WC) has been responsible for an abject failure of planning and preparation, for years already, in respect of safe parking for parents dropping off and picking up pupils,” said local man, Adrian Edwards. “And it’s now set to get even worse, with still no plan or proposal from WC, other than weasel words and platitudes. 

“We can all understand that a primary school built a hundred, or even fifty years ago is unlikely to have sufficient nearby safe parking places available for parents, for today’s conditions. But for a school built only a few years ago, the lack of foresight and provision is unforgiveable.” 

When asked by Melksham News about his thoughts on Wiltshire Council’s lack of foresight, cllr Sankey said, “The original school at the bottom of Sandridge hill needed replacing and the new location better lends itself to pupils being walked to and from school. The school’s primary role is to educate their pupils, not their parents on how to drive or park responsibly.   

“Any new development may however enable them to make changes/improvements to ease the problems currently being experienced by parents and local residents.” 

In response to the concerns, the school has previously said that it hopes to work with residents to identify ways to make ‘positive improvements’. 

Consultation on the plans has now closed. A date for Wiltshire Council’s planning committee to consider the application has yet to be confirmed.