Merton Council have been branded undemocratic and secretive over plans to build a new secondary school in south Wimbledon.

It was announced on July 1 that the new school would be built on private land, which the council will have to purchase. Although the exact location has not yet been disclosed, it is believed the site will be off Merantun Way.

July 1: Confirmed: New secondary school will be built in south Wimbledon

Chair of the nearby High Path Community Association, Cypren Edmunds, has said it is “ridiculous” that residents were not consulted or notified about the plans for the school.

Mr Edmunds said: “How can you do something like this without consulting the residents? Decisions of this nature need to include the community. You can’t just plonk a school down on someone’s estate without telling them.

“There is this really, really weak excuse that it’s all commercially sensitive so they can’t tell us anything.

“There are no transparent conversations happening. I don’t know what world these people are living in. I know commercial sensitivity is important but no residents have been involved in the conversations.”

However, Merton Council have disputed this, and say the Harris Foundation, who will be running the new Harris Academy Wimbledon school, have already spoken to parents and the local community, and that once the final location has been agreed Harris will conduct a statutory consultation.

Wimbledon Times:

The Harris Federation already runs Harris Academy Merton in Mitcham (pictured) and Harris Academy Morden

Mr Edmunds also raised concerns with the current high level of traffic already experienced on the estate due to the nearby Merton Abbey Primary School, and the possible impact a new school would have on the planned regeneration of High Path.

Former Labour councillor and cabinet member for education, Peter Walker, has also raised concerns about the location of the new school, and argued it should be put in Mitcham where there is greater demand and fewer existing secondary schools.

July 6: 'It's ridiculous': Former Merton Council cabinet member for education Peter Walker condemns decision to build new secondary school on private land in south Wimbledon

Mr Walker said he had also been told by officers at the council that the cabinet had intentionally chosen the south Wimbledon site against the advice of both officers and an official report commissioned by Capita Property and Infrastructure (formerly Capita Symonds).

However, cabinet member for finance and deputy leader at Merton Council, Councillor Mark Allison, said: “Our top priority is to ensure Merton children receive the best quality education close to where they live, and our secondary schools are now in the top three in the country for pupil improvement.

“We have already agreed to expand one of our Mitcham secondary schools. For a new school, we are working with the government on a site in south Wimbledon, which is ideally placed in the heart of the borough, where the need is greatest and has excellent transport links.

Wimbledon Times:

The new school will be in south Wimbledon

“We are at a crucial stage of negotiations with the property owners and therefore disclosure of the site could jeopardise our ability to secure the best value for money for tax payers and ensure we provide the fantastic education for our young people that every parent wants.”

A council spokeswoman added that a new secondary school is needed in Wimbledon as the current schools are not able to expand, and that the government’s Education Funding Agency had selected Harris Academy to be the new school provider.

Conservative councillors attempted to ‘call in’ the decision to purchase private land for the new school, but were overruled at an overview and scrutiny meeting held on Thursday, August 4.

The reasons for the call in included the lack of consultation with residents and future pupils or parents and concerns that the school will not be able to provide appropriate education.

The call in document, signed by councillors James Holmes, Adam Bush and Linda Taylor, states: “We are concerned there could be limitations on the pupils’ education at this new school because of the site.

“This new school will be approximately one quarter the size of other Merton schools, and the lack of outdoor playing fields may curtail exercise, sport, fresh air and social interaction.”

It adds: “We don’t think the administration would dispute the fact that there has been significant secrecy around this issue. Whilst we accept that some of that has been required, we do not believe it has been required to the degree that has happened.”

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