News School plan 'awful' say councillors
Goole Town Council has given a big thumbs-down to plans to erect a temporary teaching block at Vermuyden School.
The council's planning committee, which met on Tuesday, said the temporary block would spoil the look of the school's grade-listed frontage.
The Boothferry Road school has applied for planning permission to put the temporary classrooms in front of the main school building while it upgrades the rest of the school.
But councillors voted to object to the location of the temporary teaching block - which will house ten classrooms - and to ask the school to look for an alternative site.
Committee chairman Michael Boatman said: "It's obviously going to detract from the actual facade of the school. I think that needs protecting."
He added: "I'm sure - because it is only of a temporary nature - they can look to put this somewhere else on the site."
Councillor Jane Marsden said putting the temporary classrooms in front of the school's beautiful frontage was an "awful" idea.
She added: "I know they've got to find a place but not right in the gardens."
The council was told that the temporary teaching block could be in place for up to three years, though the school contends that it will only be there for about 18 months.
Cllr Shirley Marhsall said: "I wouldn't like to see the front spoilt for three years."
Cllr Kester Dean said: "They need to look at the alternatives - they seem to have placed it in almost the worst possible site."
Cllr Jane Marsden called for a meeting with school heads so the council could get assurances from the school that it would not be chopping down trees to allow pupils access to the teaching blocks.
The school is still in negotiations with the council about the siting of the temporary structure.
A new, permanent teaching block has already been built on the site and there are further improvements planned for the school.
A spokesperson from the school was unavailable for comment at the time of going to press.
Published on 24th April 2008 in News.
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