FIELDS

We have many concerns about the current proposals, which are described in this West Bridgford Wire article -

https://sites.create-cdn.net/sitefiles/58/1/2/581262/WBWire_article_final_THE_VIEW_FROM_FIELDS_April_21.pdf

• Lady Bay Primary school has been at the heart of our community ever since it was built. Moving it away will mean a very long walk to school or, much more likely, children being taken there by car, reducing exercise and greatly increasing pollution. Local businesses will be badly affected and some may have to close, perhaps including some of the pre-schools.

• The Environment Agency says that the site chosen is at “high risk” of flooding and it’s also in the green belt. Everyone in Lady Bay knows the fields flood after heavy rain – and of course, when they do, that reduces the risk of flooding in our houses and in communities further down the river.

• The proposed site is downwind of the biggest source of pollution in the area: the A52 and the big roundabout at the junction with the A6011. Two new schools on a rural site close to Lady Bay will themselves increase pollution, both from the buildings and from the necessity of children arriving by car.

• If the schools were to be built, it would give the green light to developers to build new housing estates on the adjoining fields.

• The County Council made no effort to consult local people before choosing Regatta Way as their preferred site and have already spent £455,000 on an initial Feasibility Study.  We say that Lady Bay school can be redeveloped on its current site (see below) and that the new secondary school should be built on the other side of West Bridgford, where there is the greatest need for school places. The only reason for this unsuitable site being chosen is that the Council owns the land – but they also own other better-placed land, closer to the main communities that would be served by a new secondary school.
• The plan is completely contrary to recent statements by the County Council on protecting the environment.
• In response to the news that Councils are continuing to approve building on floodplains, a government spokesperson said (November 2021): “Our national planning policy is clear that floodplain development should be avoided wherever possible….we expect local planning authorities to follow this guidance.”

 

Read on for more detail and to find out how to get more involved.