IT was the place John Lennon remembered
for teaching him the Three ‘R’s and is so popular today that families
move close by just so their children can go there.
Dovedale
Junior School, off Penny Lane, has remained virtually unchanged since
the former Beatle was a pupil in the late 1940s and early 1950s, sharing
inkwells with George Harrison, Peter Sissons and Jimmy Tarbuck.
But
parents today launched a campaign to halt a plan that would see the
present school, built in the 1930s, expanded to accommodate 840 pupils -
the size of some of the city’s senior schools. There are currently 630
places.
Yoko Ono visits John Lennon's old school
They
have sent a letter to Mayor Joe Anderson pleading with him to say no to
the proposed expansion of the school, saying 210 more children will
lead to a traffic nightmare and overcrowding that will be a tipping
point for the effectiveness of the school.
During
recent consultations there were 75 objections about plans to increase
pupil numbers at Dovedale. Plans to expand other schools in the city
attracted just two complaints.
One
of the parents told Liverpool Confidential: “Parents' and residents'
concerns centre mainly on road traffic safety issues, the lack of space
inside and outside the school for expansion and the already large
numbers at the school.
“This
proposal would leave Dovedale with 840 pupils, not conducive to the
nurturing and supportive environment required by children in the primary
years of school. This is especially true of pupils with SEN or
additional social, emotional or learning needs.”
They are planning to hand in a petition the council cabinet meets this Friday.
“The
future of our school lies in Mayor Anderson’s hands,” they said. “We
really hope he will help us to remain a happy, healthy school that
already provides more school places for the authority than any other
primary in the area”.
Cllr
Richard Kemp, councillor for the area as well as Lib Dem leader in
Liverpool has written to Liverpool's cabinet member for schools, Cllr
Jane Corbett, pleading with he to withdraw the proposals.
"I
am not against the expansion in principle but I cannot see how it can
be done.” he writes. “Internally the building is cramped and it is on a
small site which will make physical expansion difficult. Externally,
traffic is already a nightmare in the mornings and afternoon. Both the
police and I have major reservations that that the road system could
cope with the expansion. The expansion is opposed by the majority of
parents, potential parents and by an overwhelming majority of local
residents. Please think again.”
But
Cllr Corbett said: “The expansion is good news as it is indicative of
the successful regeneration of Liverpool which means the city’s
population is growing again for the first time in many decades. Combined
with the increased birth rate, there is additional demand for school
places and we need to take action to make sure parents and carers are
able to secure a place at their local primary school.
“This
is about taking action now to tackle the areas where we know there is
the greatest demand, to alleviate some of the pressure. The schools that
we have identified meet the Government’s very strict criteria for this
funding.”
She added: “We know from the
consultation that some local residents are concerned about the knock on
effect for parking and traffic and we will be looking carefully at this
as part of the process.”
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