Parents have reacted angrily to the proposed relocation of two primary schools in Hackney Downs, with a petition demanding the plans are scrapped gaining nearly 1,000 signatures.
As part of a scheme to build a new secondary school, the council proposed moving Benthal and Nightingale Primary Schools to new sites.
After many parents criticised the proposals, Christine Murray, whose son attends Nightingale School, launched a petition, ‘Hackney School playgrounds not for sale’ last week.
Speaking to The Hackney Post, Mrs Murray, who is editor of Architectural Review magazine, said: “The proposed Nightingale School building is an offensive design. The school is self-facing – there is no natural light and no outdoor space.
“It actually pains me as a parent, as it shows so little regard for the health and wellbeing of our kids. The council are building the bare minimum of what they can get away with.”
Mrs Murray added: “The plans to build new luxury flats on school land shows disregard for the future of Hackney. If you are going to build more flats, they should at least be affordable. But the council have broken their own rules by not having a single unit of affordable housing in the designs. “
The petition has gained at least 975 signatures, winning support from celebrities including rapper Professor Green, who posted a link to the petition on his Instagram account with the message: “Hackney’s children really need your help.”
Mrs Murray said the petition had “galvanised the opposition to the plans” and that their voices “are too strong for the council to ignore”.
“As we approach the 1,000 signature point, I think the council will have to consider the petition seriously. At the very least they have to do a proper study looking at the impact the school will have.”
Councillor Anntoinette Bramble said in a statement: “To ensure we can provide local school places for local children, we are looking at how we can remodel the school sites we own.
“It’s our priority that children in Hackney should be taught in schools built to high standards, and as we are now less able to rely on Government funding for capital projects, in some locations we are looking at co-locating education and residential developments.”
Picture: Eleanor Hayward
