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Importance of education the crucial point at issue
• IT is disappointing after such a constructive meeting of the development control committee that Dr Mayer Hillman’s letter of October 23 makes a number of factual errors regarding South Hampstead High School’s recent application which I feel I must put right.
First, Dr Hillman may not have been present at the meeting on October 9 when the application was heard and therefore did not hear the support expressed by all parties for the plans to redevelop part of the school.
Secondly, 3 Maresfield Gardens is not a Grade-II listed Victorian school – it is not a listed building at all.
Thirdly, the Heath & Hampstead Society, while expressing some reservations, stated that “…we believe that SHHS’s position as an outstanding centre of educational excellence, of national importance, override these concerns.”
Fourthly, as to the number of consultation responses, these were and are overwhelmingly in support, and my reference was to one new objector in July 2008, in a total of three objectors in response to the latest application, reduced from 15 in April 2008. By comparison there have been respectively 130 and 84 letters of support, including, in July 2008, an additional 49 letters and a petition with 400 signatures.
Fifthly, the pupil roll has not been “deliberately allowed to grow… well beyond that for which it was originally designed”. The school operates well below its designated numbers as stipulated by the Department for Children, Schools and Families.
It is to be regretted that Dr Hillman has chosen a public media forum to express his objections, rather than write a letter of objection to, or choose to speak at, the relevant meeting. Dr Hillman fails to acknowledge that he was consulted at length by the school and indeed by the charitable trust under whose aegis the school operates, and his views on green issues listened to at great length.
The proposed building will be a beacon of excellence for Camden and London on sustainability issues.
I also deeply regret that Dr Hillman does not focus at all on what is the crucial element in our application, namely the overwhelming importance of education to the future of our society.
This importance was recognised in the committee report which concluded: “The scheme presented represents a significant improvement to the school facilities offering benefits to school users to which there is an identified need. It also has the potential of providing benefits to the wider community. In addition, the environmental credentials of the proposed building would be excellent and welcome.”
Jenny Stephen
Headmistress
South Hampstead High School
Centre of excellence
• I WAS saddened by the selection of letters about the planning application for redeveloping the South Hampstead High School site (October 23).
All were against the project, mentioning the Victorian Society, English Heritage, and the Hampstead Conservation Area Advisory Committee.
While I welcome the laudable aims of these organisations in preserving our history and our inheritance, these should not be the only guiding criteria or overriding considerations in deciding the future.
Visiting the Camden Council planning website I found numerous comments giving alternative views.
The Heath & Hampstead Society do not oppose the proposals, the Fitzjohns/Netherhall Conservation Area Advisory Committee object but “recognise its unsuitability for teaching purposes”.
In April, 130 out of 145 “adjacent occupiers” responded positively to the proposals.
South Hampstead High School is a very fine educational establishment, which has a great tradition, and Camden should be proud in hosting this and so many other prestigious schools.
Sadly, the antiquated building is no longer fit for purpose and trying to patch it up would not work, nor would it work transplanting the school to a new site, far removed from its roots. The most important consideration should be ensuring the future of a seat of learning that is a centre of excellence.
A handsome new building, sensitively designed to blend into its surroundings, making full use of the latest efficient building techniques and suitable for teaching in the
21st century, should be acceptable to the borough, indeed welcomed by it.
Preservation is important.
In this case equal or greater weight should be given to preserving a great school as to preserving an old façade.
Rosemary Emanuel
Regent’s Park Road, NW1 |
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