MIDDLEMORE SCHOOL CRISIS MARCH 2012 update

If you have previously voiced your opinion on the need for a Middlemore primary school your details have been forwarded to Councillor Long who will be in touch with you all.

If you wish to be involved please post a comment and your details will be forwarded on to him.

Middlemore School

Northamptonshire as a County Council decided to support the continuation of village schools. Because of this, throughout the county, there are currently more  places in junior schools than children to take them up. The County Council’s considered position is, taking into account the current austere national  financial position, that there is no justification to build any further junior schools at present. These were the reasons given for not building the school on Middlemore following my fights, ( both at Daventry & Northampton) to get the promised junior school constructed. I have made further representations regarding this decision, so far to no avail,  because the currently available school places are not close to the location where the  children who require them  live.

Monksmore School

The next major housing development to be started in Daventry will be Monksmore. This will be a development of 1,000 dwellings. Because of the number of new children who will live on Monksmore combined with those who currently live on Middlemore, ( and those who will in future will reside on Middlemore, including the two new phases which are to be opened up), a new primary school is scheduled to be built here. The present time scale for this will two / three years.

31 Replies to “MIDDLEMORE SCHOOL CRISIS MARCH 2012 update”

  1. We’re both well past the age where schooling is an issue
    but we feel that Middlemore would be significantly improved socially and as a community if the original proposal to include a school were to be followed and another field full of houses avoided.

  2. Thanks for your comments , Here is a response that Councillor Long is sending out to interested parties so far.
    Good morning.

    Please allow me to introduce myself.

    My name is Chris Long and I am one of the District Councillors for Middlemore. ( I am also a County Councillor).

    As you will see from the attached document I am seeking to meet residents and or hear their opinions regarding a school to serve Middlemore.

    If you would like to contact me with your thoughts / comments please feel free to do so on clong@daventrydc.gov.uk

    I look forward to both hearing from you and hopefully meeting with you.

    Best regards

    Chris

  3. Many thanks to Jacqui and Bill Robb for their comments which I totally agree with.

    I will add their views to the file that I am putting together.

  4. Hi Chris,

    As a young professional couple with a baby on the way our opinon is obviously that a school in the estate would be beneficial. But as the comments of Jacqui and Bill show, it is not just people in our position that feel there are clear benefits of having a school in the estate.

    A school will give central focal point for the estate, a place for new famlys in the area to meet and build a real community. Something that can not be achieved by each family driving to ashby fields or southbrooks to drop their children off.

    It is the social beneifts of the school that mustn’t be understated. From the big school events such as fairs etc to the simplier day to days events of parents getting to know each other while waiting at the school gates for the children. It is these small and simple events that build a big community!

    With more houses planned on the remaining sites of middlemore, local school places must be understrain. Site 10 was reserved for a school for a clear reason. Something that would have come from days of planning when middlemore was first planned. How can the need for additional school places suddenly of changed, when the number of houses planned hasn’t ?

    My vote is clear and hopefully the voices of the residents of middlemore will be heard!

    Kind regards

    Nathan

  5. Hi All

    My family and I moved here in 2009, bought a lovely house in a lovely location. The estate is very friendly and we love it here. We do feel however to have been back stabbed by Daventry council, we were of the opinion that a school was promised on land on the estate and moved here for that reason. There is a real need for a school here.

  6. While we fully appreciate that houses, or the families therein, generate more council tax income than a school,
    why not create a Middlemore school with Monksmore in mind? We must assume that the original plan and consent
    had value. Start Middlemore school now and it will be ready to greet the young arrivals in Monksmore as they arrive. Seems to us wrinklies that would make two lots of happier
    parents ( and maybe save the hides of some dithering decision makers). Elections are coming!

  7. I have read with interest the comments from Nathan, Lee and Jacqui and Bill.

    Please may I make two comments. Firstly the decision not to build the Middlemore School was that of Northamptonshire Couny Council not Daventry District Council. I fought the case for the school to be built at both County Hall and at Daventry for eighteen months. The reason that I was given for declining my representation on behalf of Middlemore residents was that the number of children requiring school places in Daventry was less than the current number of places available. Not a satisfactory resonse but the best that I managed to achieve.

    Secondly I would like the opportunity to discuss the issue of the scholl with Nathan, Lee and Jacqui and Bill to provide them with all the information that I am currently aware of.

  8. I would like to now why on the the original planning application and consultation plans the school was clearly marked at site 10, also the planning application had also been made, have alook on the planning application portal it was later withdrawn. Daventry District Council passed the application for houses to be built, but failed to make sure the school was also included, it was withdrawn Developments being built in other areas that have a school mentioned in their consulation plans have to be built, so why is this not happening here? what has happened to the money allocated for the school ? I agree with rob and Jacqui start it now and they will have more than adequate children to fill spaces, when we bought our house we were told it was an eco site, surely if children can walk to school the school run in cars will be few and the carbon foot print will be less only a thought

  9. Can we not organise a petition for the residents of middlemore to help push our case for a new school?

  10. As the County Councillor representing Timken I heped their Mothers and Tots Group establish themselves by providing Empowering Councillors money in order to buy necessary equipment.

    I have available to me further Empowering Councillor funds and I write to enquire if the Middlemore Mums and Tots Group require similar funding.

  11. I think most would agree – school would be better…. as promised when the houses were build, as per the planning permission which was granted due to the requirement of a school and as per most parents who would prefer not having to drive to the far side of Daventry to their allocated school place.

    Your focus is completely wrong here, work for your area that you represent and get a school built on this land, or in the very least BLOCK houses being built on it, thus when a school is required, there is space for it still.

  12. Happy to meet all. We are 68 and 78, completely retired and spend c.4 months a year in Spain so we won’t be around until early June. We have two young grandsons and are much involved in their and their parents’ struggles with a system that appears to value bureaucracy over education
    of kids. Keep us informed and we’ll join in later.
    Regards, Jacqui and Bill.

  13. It seems that planning permission is being asked for building houses on this land.

    This is something that needs to be stopped, loosing the land will be the final nail in the coffin for any school plans.

    How has the council got this land?
    Has this land been given for free to the council for a school and in return they decided to build houses to rent privately in order to make money? I do hope this isn’t the case, but it does actually appear to be what has happened.

    http://www.daventryexpress.co.uk/community/new-homes-for-middlemore-1-3767910

  14. Would Chris Long or any of his colleagues like to respond to the “rumour” that the calculations used to justify away any hope of a school on Middlemore were “less than accurate” and “less than authentic”…?

  15. Chris,

    How as residents do we formally file our objections to granting planning permission for the site?

    Also where can we find details of the planning application? Site plans etc?

    Nathan

  16. New homes for Middlemore

    Published on Wednesday 25 April 2012 09:03

    PROPOSALS to build 45 new homes for rent on the Middlemore estate in Daventry have been unveiled.

    The scheme costing £3.5 million will see 32 homes built for commercial rental, with an extra 13 set to be affordable. Subject to getting planning permission, work on the new homes could start this summer and be completed by June 2013. The plans have been put together by Daventry District Council (DDC) working with Galliford Try and the East Midlands Housing Association.

    The new homes are designed as ‘Life Time Homes’, a term used for buildings capable of being adapted in future years to provide flexibility for tenants who become less able.

    DDC chief executive Ian Vincent said: “There is currently a need for homes to rent in the district and this initiative will help to meet that demand while ensuring that construction activities continue to take place in Daventry despite the current economic climate.

    “We are very much looking forward to working with Galliford Try and East Midlands Housing Association on this project and are sure that this partnership working will produce quality homes that people will enjoy living in.

    “This is an innovative approach that could become best practice for other councils.”

    The homes will be built on the land that was originally set aside for a school on the estate but Northamptonshire County Council decided it was not needed.

    The commercial rental properties are designed to provide DDC with a source of income.
    Thought you should all beaware of this

  17. New homes for Middlemore

    Published on Wednesday 25 April 2012 09:03

    PROPOSALS to build 45 new homes for rent on the Middlemore estate in Daventry have been unveiled.

    The scheme costing £3.5 million will see 32 homes built for commercial rental, with an extra 13 set to be affordable. Subject to getting planning permission, work on the new homes could start this summer and be completed by June 2013. The plans have been put together by Daventry District Council (DDC) working with Galliford Try and the East Midlands Housing Association.

    The new homes are designed as ‘Life Time Homes’, a term used for buildings capable of being adapted in future years to provide flexibility for tenants who become less able.

    DDC chief executive Ian Vincent said: “There is currently a need for homes to rent in the district and this initiative will help to meet that demand while ensuring that construction activities continue to take place in Daventry despite the current economic climate.

    “We are very much looking forward to working with Galliford Try and East Midlands Housing Association on this project and are sure that this partnership working will produce quality homes that people will enjoy living in.

    “This is an innovative approach that could become best practice for other councils.”

    The homes will be built on the land that was originally set aside for a school on the estate but Northamptonshire County Council decided it was not needed.

    The commercial rental properties are designed to provide DDC with a source of income.

  18. I found the above which was issued this morning and thought it might be of interest to some of if not all of you, I have had a look for the planning application but guess what it does not appear on the website, I dont know why, is this so we can not put up objection!!!???? I would like to ask Counciler Chris Long, when was the consultation with the local people was done I am not aware of one being carried out and certainly not informed of one.

  19. Via twitter from Daventry DC:

    The application has yet to be formally validated yet, but when it is there will be a consultation when people can comment.

    And:

    Alternatively you can submit an objection before viewing the details of the application by writing to the Planning Dept at DDC.

  20. Now is the time to get organised as a group and stand formally against this plan.

    How can planners for 10 years state a school or community building is needed and will be provided on site 10, then when it comes to building on site 10, it gets dropped for more houses.

    There’s no community here and there should be, a school would start to build this community, splitting kids over 3 different schools around the area is not the way to build a community.

    Daventry DC and Northampton CC should do what has been in the planning requirements for the last 10 years and build the school.

  21. In respect of the comments above regarding plans to build on the land originally allocated for the Middlemore School.I have a meeting this evening, (Wednesday 25th), with a Middlemore resident to try and establish the most effective way of objecting to this planning application. Happy to either lead or at least assist residents with any objection. If you want further information from me my e-mail address is clong@daventrydc.gov.uk.
    I look forward to hearing from all interested residents

  22. Greetings, Count us in on any effort once we are back home. A school building is only the start, local education is the most important for the children but efficient use of rooms and facilities after hours gives opportunities for all the community. Somewhere to meet would be a start.
    Anyone for cribbage?
    Jacqui and Bill.

  23. Count me in to! As for a place to discuss as a group there’s always getting a quiet corner of middlemore pub?

  24. Hi All,

    Thanks to Nathan i have got a copy of the email about the school so….

    I just have sent an email to Chris so im in too. As we have 19 month year daughter we would love to have school just over the road. I do hope the email has gone ok

    Will be checking on here whats going on

    Bye for now

  25. Well I have lived here for 6 years now and the school was one of the deciding factors when choosing where to live, and I feel thoroughly let down by the council.

    Next week I found out whether my daughter has a school place at the same school as her brother, so it’s a bit late now for a school for them, I would be reluctant to move them once settled.

    However I do feel we need a community focus, with all the children going to different schools there isn’t a great deal of integration and dare I say it, gang culture may result in later years.

    I have lived on new builds before, completely new villages and there the developers donated a large house for use as a community centre, prior to a purpose built building being built.

    A school I feel would provide a community focus as well as a point of education for those lucky enough to access it during their children’s school years.

  26. I visited the offices of the Daventry Express this morning and spoke with both the Editor Matt Cornish and one of his reporters James Bryce.

    I have asked if they would be prepared to produce a follow up article for next weeks edition laying out residents objections to DDC’s planning proposals. I am very hopeful that this will be forthcoming.

    I would, if I may, urge any residents who wish to be involved with this planning appeal to contact me so we can create an action group.

    I will try to arrange a meeting at the Middlemore pub so residents can come together and agree a course of action.

    Please watch this space for further news.

  27. Just a note to every whom email chris long, your objections against the building of dwellings on site 10 now needs to put into writing, the planning applications have been posted both on lamp posts and in the paper. watch out for the leaflet which will be posted through your letter box soon it will give all the information you need. If we all object and stop the land usage change we stand a chane of securing the site, otherwise it will just go through!!!!!!

  28. Thank you for all your comments and support. Due to the age of this post I will be closing comments on it and ask that you visit this page https://middlemore.co/?p=422 to get the latest update and continue any comments you may have.

    Thank you.

Comments are closed.