The lack of primary school places in the Wimbledon side of the borough for children starting out on one of their most important journeys in life is deplorable. Even more deplorable is that the situation has been understood and well-documented over many years. Yet, Merton Council, led by Labour since 2010 has done nothing to progress the building of a desperately needed new school on this side of the borough.

Instead, they have sought to push a square peg into a round hole by the forcible expansion of Dundonald School. In the process, destroying community relations by riding roughshod over the historic covenant protecting Dundonald Rec.

The dismantling of the Rec was forced through by Councillor Peter Walker, who was first sacked as cabinet member for children services having been caught on candid camera removing flyers publicising a meeting for Friends of Dundonald Rec.

We now hear that he has been sacked from the Children Services Scrutiny Committee and all other committees also for speaking out against free schools.

So, what I have long suspected has been confirmed. The lack of a coherent schools policy by the council is rooted in in-fighting within the ruling administration, and a desperately needed new primary school has been held back due to ideological opposition by Councillors Walker and Judge’s opposition to free schools.

I am appalled that for so long the Labour administration has put ideology before the needs of local families, and left so many scrambling for a school place at the last moment this year.

Shas Sheehan

Parliamentary spokesperson for Wimbledon Liberal Democrats

 


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