At a public meeting, Education Minister Rod Bryans and head teacher Sarah Hague both indicated that option two – building the school on a field opposite the Airport Playing Fields – was the best alternative.
Almost everyone else who spoke at the meeting also expressed the same view.
Around 60 members of the public turned out for the event at Les Quennevais School to share their views about the three proposals that have been put out for public consultation.
So far the Education Department has received over 700 comments from Islanders but it was option two that those at yesterday’s meeting favoured.
Option one involves building the school on States-owned land on the south of Les Quennevais playing fields.
Option three is to build on St Brelade football club’s pitch, using the surrounding green fields south of Rue Carrée as playing fields.
The Education Minister made his views clear while apologising to the audience on behalf of the States for taking so long to bring plans forward for a new school.
‘I do have a favourite site and that is number two but the options are open,’ Deputy Bryans said.
Mrs Hague added that no matter where the school ended up it would be a vast improvement on the current site, which she said was ‘fraught’ with the possibility of a ‘major incident’ occurring.
‘I am happy for whatever site and no matter what site it is built on it will be dramatically better than what it is now,’ she said.
‘Option two allows us to be freer.
‘That is not to say that option one and three will not be fantastic schools but the opportunities to maximise our potential is much freer with option two.’
‘The access at the end of the day and the drop-offs at the start of the day are very fraught with the possibility of major accidents.’
Questions have been raised as to why the current school is not being refurbished but Barry Freeman, principal architect, said disruption to the school and cost meant that the option was simply not viable.
Parishioners also raised concerns about losing sports areas if option one was chosen and increasing traffic in and around Route de Quennevais.
‘We have got outstanding teachers, we have got wonderful kids who are really with us and want to do the best that they can. That is when you have a good school. But when you have a great building, that allows those two things to come together, and that is when magic happens.’
Head teacher Sarah Hague.
‘There are two things we want to achieve at the moment – a budget and a site. This is a genuine consultation, this is your school, your community and we want to hear your views.’
Justin Donovan, director of Eduction, says it is vital that Islanders share their views on the new building.
‘I think it’s a realistic point of view that by using option two or three and putting a school in the middle of green agricultural land it is possibly the best option for that land. I am convinced that if a school does not go on that land we will see applications for housing on there.’
Parishioner and fisherman Don Thompson says a school on the fields opposite Rue Carrée is the best option.
‘I don’t want a big white rendered building. I want something beautiful.’
Mrs Hague said she was excited by what they could build and had been inspired after a trip to Cornelius Vermuyden School in Canvey Island.
Click here to have your say on the three options.
[figure caption=”Option One: Les Quennevais Sports Field.
The first option involves constructing the school on States-owned land at the south-east corner of the playing fields – the area that is currently the tennis court and car park.
The project would involve adapting the design of the school around the existing hockey pitch and would lead to a net loss of facilities, including one fewer sports pitch and the reduction of the cycle track from 1,500m to 1,000m.
To allow access to the school, a new road layout would have to be constructed and traffic levels are expected to be increased in the residential area surrounding the playing fields.” title=”Model” align=”center” url=”/?attachment_id=1512093″ id=”1512093″ size=”100″]
[figure caption=”Option Two: Fields south of Rue Carrée
The second potential site is located on a collection of small fields south of the Airport.
Since it was suggested the site might be suitable in 2013, environmental, geological, archaeological, acoustic and traffic studies have been carried out which have suggested it would be a feasible option. Notably, it is shielded from aircraft noise by the departures building and new cargo hangar.
Other positives include:
- Potential for future expansion
- Benefits for local sports users with the creation of extra courts and pitches for out of hours community use
- Good transport links the site is accessible from the existing main road, with drop off for cars and buses on site
However, on the opposing side, construction would lead to a loss of agricultural fields and open space between Red Houses and the Airport. The site is in the Green Zone in the Island Plan, but the policy allows for ‘elements of significant public infrastructure, such as a new secondary school’ provided it can be demonstrated that this is the most appropriate site and any impact is mitigated as far as possible.” title=”Model” align=”center” url=”/news/2015/09/15/three-options-for-new-10-million-les-quennevais-school/model-3/” id=”1512097″ size=”100″]
[figure caption=”Option Three: Fields south of Rue Carrée plus St Brelade football pitch site
The third option is very similar to the second and would enjoy the same advantages of transport links and protection from aircraft noise. Unlike option two, however, there would be minimal disruption to green fields as the plan would incorporate the current St Brelade football club pitch.
If the option was chosen, the school would also be closer to existing urban developments.
The main drawback is that the school size would be restricted to ensure that it can fit onto the pitch and not encroach on the surrounding green fields. The St Brelade Social Club’s clubhouse would also need to be moved from its current location.” title=”Model” align=”center” url=”/news/2015/09/15/three-options-for-new-10-million-les-quennevais-school/model-2/” id=”1512095″ size=”100″]
