Save Elliott School

The Save Elliott School campaign is, of course, disappointed that Wandsworth Council’s Finance and Corporate Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee chose to recommend the sale of 41% (15,070 sq.m. / 3.72 acres) of the school site, including the majority of Elliott’s playing fields.

It is particularly bewildering that a meeting which was supposed to discuss a serious case on its merits should be so bereft of actual statistics and, instead, replete with myths about the site being ‘a sloping car park’ and ideologically-tinged declarations that ‘selling land is an excellent model for funding education’.

96% of respondents to the official public consultation were against the sale of any land. A petition with 56,355 signatures demanding that the Council reject the sale of Elliott School’s playing fields was handed to Leader of the Council, Ravi Govindia, just before the meeting.

The Save Elliott School Campaign pointed out that, after the sale, the size of Elliott’s playing fields would fall below the minimum standards set out by the Department for Education. No one challenged this fact. Instead, references were made to Millfield School managing fine with off-site facilities when that school is situated in some 100 acres of land and Elliott in just 9 (of which it is about to lose almost 4).

The campaign also asked the Committee if it was truly impossible to ask the citizens of Wandsworth whether they would like to pay to keep these playing fields and, potentially, improve schools all round the borough for as little as £26/year? There was no response.

Questions asking for evidence that alternative funding possibilities had been exhausted were circumvented. The campaign has spoken to the Public Works Loan Board and knows that to delay the decision on land sale now for two years and seek alternative funding whilst refurbishment begins costs less than what the Council has already risked in abortive costs.

Since Wandsworth Council is immoveable and Michael Gove and Justine Greening also seem intent on land sale, the campaign calls upon Boris Johnson, who has been so vocal about preserving London’s playing fields, and Nick Clegg, who lives closer to the school than the off-site playing fields available, to restore faith in the Government’s commitment to sport, education and our national heritage.

If you read the Council’s press releases which continue to mislead the public about their shameful sale of Elliott School and its sport facilities you may think the proposals are justified. 

Taken from a statement from Wandsworth Council. Released 9th August

“If people think that Elliott School is selling its playing fields they are totally mistaken.

Much of the land in question has been concreted over and is used as a car park and for redundant buildings like the old caretaker’s cottage. None of it is used for sports purposes.”

HERE IS THE TRUTH:

Existing site plan:

http://tinyurl.com/c2a6yll

Land sale plan:

http://tinyurl.com/cf86u2x

Panorama of playground:

http://tinyurl.com/copxng5

3 of 7 Sports courts lost (in good condition):

http://tinyurl.com/dxa2z3r

Athletic field and football pitch lost:

http://tinyurl.com/ck9qzxk

THE BIG MEETING HAS ARRIVED!!! 

TOMORROW - Tuesday 21st August 2012 from 6.15pm outside Wandsworth Town Hall.  

This crucial council meeting could seal Elliott School’s fate.

Now we have hit the NATIONAL PRESS we are expecting a media presence so numbers matter.

SO FAR WE HAVE OVER 55,000 PETITION SIGNATURES. 

http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/Save_Londons_school_fields/

We need ALL supporters of Elliott, schools, playing fields and green space - wherever you might live - to join us for a mass demonstration! 

This could be your LAST CHANCE TO PREVENT ALL FORTHCOMING SALES OF PLAYING FIELDS.

OUR OLYMPIC LEGACY NEEDS YOU!

We need as many people to come down, to let the councillors know how precious we think the School’s land is for Wandsworth’s children, who deserve the right to space to play!

Help us secure the 6 multi-purpose tennis courts, an athletics field and football pitch for future generations, so we can continue to nurture Olympic talent!

AVAAZ

http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/Save_Londons_school_fields/

38 degrees

http://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/prevent-the-sale-of-school-playing-fields-in-london-and-beyond

Government e-petition

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/34446

Wandsworth council e-petition

http://ww3.wandsworth.gov.uk/committ/mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx?ID=49&RPID=2361368&HPID=2361368

Please find below a list with links to some of the press coverage from the last few days that has mentioned Elliott School. 

We would love individuals to write letters into the various newspapers in response to the articles published.  Please find the relevant email addresses to send your letters to at the bottom of this post.

———————————————————————————————————————-

• Michael Gove overruled experts to sell school playing fields

The Guardian, 17^th August 2012

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/aug/17/michael-gove-school-playing-fields?INTCMP=SRCH

• School playing fields: Government apology for wrong data

BBC News, 17^th August 2012

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19291911

• Michael Gove ‘defied advice over selling off school playing fields’

The Independent, 17^th August 2012

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/michael-gove-defied-advice-over-selling-off-school-playing-fields-8056376.html

• Michael Gove ‘overruled’ experts to sell school playing fields

ITV News, 17^th August 2012

http://www.itv.com/news/2012-08-17/michael-gove-overruled-experts-to-sell-school-playing-fields/

• Keep the flame alive: Michael Gove pushed through sales of school playing fields against official advice

The Daily Telegraph, 16^th August 2012

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/keep-the-flame-alive/9481037/Keep-The-Flame-Alive-School-playing-fields-at-risk-as-ministers-relax-building-rules.html

• Estate Agent’s Brochure Proves Playing Fields ARE Still Being Sold Off

The Mirror, 16^th August 2012

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/estate-agents-brochure-proves-playing-1263335

• School sports fields in danger as government relaxes rules 

The Guardian, 14^th August 2012

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2012/aug/14/school-sports-fields-government-olympics?INTCMP=SRCH

• Graphic: School playing field sell offs, mapped 

The Daily Telegraph, 9^th August 2012

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/schoolsports/9464683/Graphic-School-playing-field-sell-offs-mapped.html

• Cameron criticises teachers over school sports / Teachers must give time for pupils to get sporting chance, says Cameron

The Times, 8^th/9^th August

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/sitesearch.do?querystring=elliott+school&p=tto&pf=all&bl=on

(Subscription required to view The Times online)

• School playing field sell-offs continue to rise

The Guardian, Tuesday 7 August 2012

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2012/aug/07/school-playing-field-sell-offs-rise?INTCMP=SRCH

———————————————————————————————————————-

Daily Telegraph

dtletters@telegraph.co.uk

The Guardian

letters@guardian.co.uk

Financial Times

letters.editor@ft.com

The Times

letters@thetimes.co.uk

The Independent

letters@independent.co.uk

Daily Mirror

mailbox@mirror.co.uk

AVAAZ

http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/Save_Londons_school_fields/

38 degrees

http://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/prevent-the-sale-of-school-playing-fields-in-london-and-beyond

Government e-petition

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/34446

Wandsworth council e-petition

http://ww3.wandsworth.gov.uk/committ/mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx?ID=49&RPID=2361368&HPID=2361368

Our new briefing pack details the current situation with Elliott School and what you can do to effect Wandsworth Borough Councils plans to sell of the schools playing fields.

Save Elliot School Campaigners in the Public Gallery in the Council Chamber were left angry and more determined than ever to continue their opposition to Council plans to sell off more than 40% of school land including playing fields, sports facilities and the all important setting for the Grade ll listed building. 

The Opposition Labour Party had proposed that the Council take immediate action to release funding for Elliott School in order to carry out urgent repairs to the School. They tabled a serious alternative for consideration that the Council should finance the short term cash flow requirements from its surplus cash balances so that alternative funding plans could be scrutinised. The Opposition argued that the Council had failed to bring to Committee adequately broad-ranging financial background papers to allow full discussion of an appropriate financial rescue package for the Grade ll listed School. 

This motion was immediately voted down by the majority party and substituted by a shockingly disrespectful and cynical amendment that “This Council is taking the necessary steps to secure a sustainable future for Elliott School”

The leader of the Council, Ravi Govindia claimed that: ‘all heritage buildings should earn their own keep’. The statement is laughable if it weren’t so irresponsible. Councillor Kathy Tracey said that the current problems of a cold building in winter and a hot one in summer was the fault of the original architects and therefore current and future generations should not pay. Of course it’s not as simple as that. So Wandsworth are happy to deplete their educational estate, diminish the potential of a listed building of stature and reduce the educational possibilities for generations of schoolchildren to come, while absolving themselves of decades of neglect.

The appalling shame is that Wandsworth Council could have secured central government funding had they applied earlier for Building Schools for the Future (BSF). They didn’t apply until 2007, 6 years after BSF started.  After the cancellation of BSF they failed to pursue the possibility of Priority Schools Building Programme on what now appear to be spurious grounds that listed buildings are not eligible. (see DOCOMOMO letter to the AJ 4th July here)

All round Wandsworth Borough Council are letting down current and future generations and prepared to destroy part of our national heritage for the sake of fiscal dogma. Even when other sustainable alternatives are put to them they struggle to listen.

Follow the link to see more about the Campaign to save Elliott School and what you can do to help:

http://saveelliottaction.wordpress.com/

Wandsworth Borough Council have now issued their Official Notice in the Wandsworth Guardian July 5th to dispose of 15,070 square metres of Elliott School land.

Section 77 land sale plan 5th July 2010

This plan showing the specified open area for disposal can be viewed during normal office hours at the Marble Hall Reception of the Town Hall.

Objections to the intended disposal must be made in writing and addressed to:

The Assistant Director of Administration (Professional Services)

Wandsworth Borough Council

Room 148

The Town Hall

Wandsworth High Street

LONDON   SW18 2PU

by no later than Friday 3rd August 2012

SO EVERYBODY MUST WRITE AGAIN ….. SIMPLE OBJECTIONS….. AND SPREAD THE WORD TO OTHERS TO DO THE SAME

Article of the week:

http://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/daily-news/docomomo-blasts-council-over-elliott-school-redevelopment-plans/8632626.article

Despite this, The Twentieth Century Society, DoCoMoMo and English Heritage were refused deputations at the last council meeting.

Feel free to email the councillors with your concerns: 

• Ravi Govindia (Leader of the Council)<rgovindia@wandsworth.gov.uk> 
• Leslie McDonnel (Chairman)<lmcdonnell@wandsworth.gov.uk>
• Collins, Graham (Committee Secretary)<GCollins@wandsworth.gov.uk>
• Guy Senior (Cllr)<gsenior@wandsworth.gov.uk>
• Kathy Tracy (Councillor and Cabinet Member Education and Children’s Services) ktracey@wandsworth.gov.uk
• Labour Group: rex.osborn@btinternet.com, pcarpenter@wandsworth.gov.uk, boswellsheila@me.com

Thanks to everyone who made it down to the town hall on Wednesday.

The Committee refused to hear any of the 4 deputations requested: notably and not previously heard from The Twentieth Century Society, DoCoMoMo UK and English Heritage; residents of Westleigh Avenue; and former teachers and governors of Elliott School. A third deputation request from the Campaign was refused on the grounds that the Campaign had had their hearing on 11th June. But much has changed since then and there was new evidence to present that was particularly important to hear because the Section 77 application could be amended up to the 11th July. N.B. The Campaign was also refused a deputation at the Education and Children Services Committee on 25th June on the recommendation that it should be made to the Finance Committee meeting on 4th July. 

This refusal was dramatic and shocking. 

The Labour Group on the Committee objected, but the Tories voted them down. The Tories said that there would be a Special Meeting of the Finance Committee in early-mid August by which time the outcome of negotiations with the bidders for buying the land would be clear, (the reason given for not allowing deputations and Committee discussion last night) and deputations could be requested for that meeting. The Chair did not concede that school holiday time was a bad idea for such a meeting. (For teachers?? Or families??) 

We understand that under the Council’s constitution, good practice notwithstanding, there is no obligation to hear or consider the views of objectors. However the decision not to hear ANY of the deputations, after having informed us that they would be heard, was considered particularly brutal and extraordinary by all.

**URGENT** Save Elliott School DEMONSTRATION
6.30pm Wednesday 4th July, Outside Wandsworth Town Hall

Demonstration against Wandsworth Borough Council’s attempts to silence public opposition and debate about the sale of Elliott School playgrounds and sports facilities.

We are demonstrating about:

1. The proposals to sell 40% of the school (300% reduction in area of sports pitches).
2. The councils recommendations to refuse a variety of public deputations which would present new evidence and information.

Two weeks ago a special council meeting for Elliott School was cancelled in spite of the campaign and English Heritage’s preparations to address the committee. At the following education scrutiny meeting the council then refused another of our formal requests to speak. This was in spite of being told to come up with alternatives and to present further information (which we have done).

The FINAL meeting is now upon us and we understand 4 deputations are being requested:

1. SES campaign (section 77 application and alternatives)
2. Group of ex-Elliott teachers and governors (educational considerations)
3. Westleigh Avenue residents group (commercial and WBC sale process flawed)
4. The Twentieth Century Society (heritage considerations)

The first 3 of these have been recommended for refusal by the Chairman of the Committee, Leslie McDonnell (lmcdonnell@wandsworth.gov.uk). Therefore we propose a demonstration outside Wandsworth Town Hall from 6.30pm, Wednesday 4th July. 

With or without us speaking the meeting will go ahead as planned at 7.30pm in room 123 and you are all welcome!!

Since the original proposal the council has agreed to 2 minor amendments following intense public pressure. As a result the school will provide a far better environment for learning and we should all feel pleased about that. Political pressure DOES WORK and we call upon all our supporters to join us tomorrow for one final push for a further amendment to the proposals (section 77 application) which remains terribly short sighted and damaging for education and the future of this historic and much loved site. 

Bring banners, whistles, mega-phones, ghetto blasters, etc!

URGENT APPEAL FOR WEDNESDAY 4TH JULY FROM 6.30PM

MEGA PRESENCE NEEDED ON THE PAVEMENT OUTSIDE THE TOWN HALL 

Absolutely last chance to show opposition to wandsworth’s  proposals to the finance committee to sell off school land before they go to secretary of state on 11th july for a decision:

We still aren’t being told the detail of the agreement reached between all the parties on the Council, but progress has been made (see Wandsworth Guardian story below). The Campaign has asked for another deputation to this, the last Council meeting. We haven’t heard if we’ve been accepted, but will be there to pack the pavement and the public gallery anyway.

Please follow the link to Wandsworth guardian’s article from 28th June

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/65392206/Web%20links/page.pdf

THERE IS NOW NO COMMITTEE MEETING ON MONDAY 25TH. JUNE. SEE BELOW FOR EXPLANATION.

INSTEAD WE NEED PEOPLE FOR WEDNESDAY 4TH JULY  

THIS IS BECAUSE OF CONSIDERABLE PROGRESS MADE IN COMMITTEE SINCE OUR LAST DEPUTATION

Since the 11th June meeting of the Finance Committee more concessions have been agreed (land loss reduced) though not yet officially confirmed. Nevertheless we understand that revisions will be made to retain the area to the north of the gym.and tech. block including the outdoor stage; also some form of protection for public use has been agreed for the area to the south of the block. Because this agreement has been reached by all the parties on the Council the special meeting on Monday 25th is now deemed NOT necessary, and will not be held. SO PLEASE DON’T TURN UP THEN. Exact detail to follow on the revisions to Wandsworth’s Section 77 application, but the main thing is that the subject has been postponed till the regular Finance and Resources OSC meeting on 4th July.

So 4th July is when we need to pack the pavement outside the Town Hall with support for the Campaign from 6.30 PM. We have achieved considerable changes to the original proposals but must keep fighting for the principles. 

This is the last Council meeting before the Secretary of State will decide on Wandsworth’s Section 77 application on 11th July. Amendments can be made to Wandsworth’s plans right up to the 11th July. So this is our last local opportunity to influence what the Council apply for.  

WE NEED EVERYONE TO BE THERE ON 4TH JULY FROM 6.45pm SO PLEASE GET NETWORKING 

*URGENT*

WE ARE MAKING STEADY PROGRESS BUT WE NEED OUR SUPPORTERS TO MAKE A FINAL PUSH NOW!! PLEASE COME TO THE TOWN HALL WEDNESDAY 20th and MONDAY 25th TO SHOW THE STRENGTH OF OBJECTIONS TO THE LAND LOSS.  

Campaign deputation to the Education and Children’s Services Committee tomorrow Wednesday 20th June at 7.20PM at The Town Hall, Room 123. PLEASE COME TO SUPPORT IF YOU CAN.

The Town Hall 

Wandsworth High Street 

London SW18 2PU

Switchboard:  

This meeting is a further very important opportunity to voice opposition to the selling of school land at a crucial point in the Council’s procedures. It is very important to keep up the pressure on ALL councillors because the decision taken by The Finance and Scrutiny Meeting on Monday11th June was to proceed to the Secretary of State for approval to dispose of Elliott school land, BUT following a marathon 2 hour debate in Committee, provoked by the Campaign’s submission and deputation, which secured considerable concessions spelt out in the wording of the Council’s official decision notes as follows:

(a)  Recommendations in paragraph 2 [to apply for Section 77 approval to dispose of school land] supported, bearing in mind the exempt information contained in Paper No. 12-313A, [confidential financial paper]and subject to the following:-

(i)  officers to be instructed actively to pursue the option of maintaining the amphitheatre within the School; and

(ii)  officers to be requested to use all reasonable endeavours to minimise the necessary land requirement to achieve a viable scheme; and

(b)  the Executive to be asked to consider instructing the Director of Administration to convene special meetings of the Finance and Corporate Resources OSC, the Executive and the Council – to be held within the next two weeks – to give further consideration to any further revised boundary proposals relating to land on the Elliot site to be disposed of and to amend the application for consent under Section 77 accordingly - the need for these meetings to be discussed with appropriate Members from both political Groups.

see more:

http://ww3.wandsworth.gov.uk/moderngov/ieListDocuments.aspx?MId=3909&x=1

We anticipate that the crunch meeting of the The Finance and Scrutiny Meeting to determine the exact amount of land loss will be on Monday 25th June at 7.30PM. We shall make a further deputation to that meeting and would invite you all to come to show your support. 

IT IS VITAL TO CONTINUE THE PRESSURE ON ALL OUR COUNCILLORS BY WRITING TO THEM WITH OUR OBJECTIONS BETWEEN NOW AND NEXT MONDAY. For a list please visit http://saveelliottschool.tumblr.com/whatyoucando

The Finance and Scrutiny Meeting: 

Monday 25th June at 7.20PM at The Town Hall, Room 123.

The Town Hall 

Wandsworth High Street 

London SW18 2PU

Switchboard:  

WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS BUT WE NEED PEOPLE TO MAKE A FINAL PUSH NOW!! PLEASE COME TO THE TOWN HALL WEDNESDAY 20th and MONDAY 25th TO SHOW THE STRENGTH OF OBJECTIONS TO THE LAND LOSS.  

Best wishes,

The Save Elliott School Campaign

Now that the public consultation is over we’ve started a new petition to central government. 

Our first petition to Wandsworth Council currently stands at 544 signatures and certainly had an effect on the council so we know we can make an impact on the Secretary of State if everyone takes a moment to sign the new petition. Please follow the link below and send it to everyone you know will be interested:

https://submissions.epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/34446

We must urge Michael Gove to intervene and prevent Wandsworth Council from selling nearly 60% of the school’s grounds.

A big thank you to all who attended this consultation yesterday. About 50 people came, and asked many difficult questions of the council officers,and let Wandsworth know the strength of feeling there is about these proposals to decimate Elliott School. Tomorrow is the last of the consultations at the school on the sale of the land so let’s get a great turnout Saturday 19th May 10.00AM-1.00PM. We understand that Mark Phillips, the Headteacher will be there, and possibly some Wandsworth councillors as well as representatives from ARK  

Most people living around the site came yesterday as a result of the Campaign leafleting individual properties, Many were not previously aware of the proposals and certainly not of the public consultation so it shows how important and effective it is to get active.  Copies of the petition will be there on Saturday for you to take away to collect more signatures: the petition doesn’t close until August. We are definitely gathering momentum!

We also leafleted at one of the gates during the consultation. 3 teachers going home were unhappy about the Campaign. They thought there was no alternative to Wandsworth’s proposals in order to secure the future of the school. Public arriving for evening activities in the 6th Form Block and the Gyms. were not aware of the proposals and were glad to be informed.

In brief: below are the concerns raised by the public in the consultation; you can fill in the detail in your own arguments and in the letters you write to your councillors, MPs, English Heritage etc. (links on the ‘what you can do’ page). Please get writing because this phase of the public consultation on the sale of the land ends on 24th May.

Concerns:

1. sale of school grounds for private development
2. depriving children of open space and opportunity for play
3. depriving the school and the community of much loved, much used open space
4. loss of sports facilities
5. demolition of grade II listed gyms and DT block and landscaped original setting for the whole building
6. neglect of the school buildings over many decades, even after listing in 1993
7. the impression that Wandsworth are trying to give: that this deterioration is not in any way their responsibility
8. incredulity that Wandsworth would not want to cherish and take pride in having such an important piece of national heritage in its borough
9. lack of evidence that other options have been considered
10. lack of alternative schemes for public consultation
11. lack of costings to justify such an aggressive proposal
12. the speed with which the proposals are being rushed through
13. the public being presented with a ‘done deal’
14. who are Lend Lease?
15. concern that the Council will be deciding on the next step so soon: 11th June meeting

Other issues raised were about the conduct of the public consultation itself:

1. many people said it was hard to find the way into the consultation:
2. astonishingly, the main entrance was closed as we began to arrive at 5.00PM and people had to walk some distances around the site to find the secondary entrances
3. there were no notices on the gates announcing the consultation nor signs within the site to direct people
4. the display in the main school entrance foyer was for the temporary buildings proposals with no signs to direct the public up to the foyer for the main proposals consultation
5. Wandsworth Council officers did not wear name and job title badges to identify themselves to the public

And a last word of encouragement to stave off any cynicism about whether campaigns can be effective: remember that not so long ago Wandsworth wanted to close down and sell off Battersea Arts Centre and before that Chestnut Grove Secondary School. They were defeated on both. They are now, ironically, proud to claim credit for BAC as a great resource in the borough, and of Chestnut Grove, deemed ‘outstanding’ in their last OFSTED inspection. We can do the same for Elliott if we pull together.