“All options are being considered” for a former fruit and vegetable market site that could house new schools in Old Swan.
After Liverpool Council announced plans to dispose of an almost nine acre site on Prescot Road for educational use that could involve the building of a new free school, councillors and MPs in the ward registered their concerns about the impact it could have on nearby St Anne (Stanley) Primary School. Paula Barker, Labour MP for Liverpool Wavertree, wrote to the local authority’s cabinet to object to proposals “in the strongest possible terms”.
Now, the council’s executive have confirmed that while the site will be made available for a new learning venue, consideration will be given to the possibility of constructing “a free school and/or a new primary school.” Assistant Mayor Cllr Sarah Doyle told this morning’s cabinet meeting “all options are being considered” for the former market site and a new building would bring jobs, growth and investment to the area.
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A report to cabinet originally said the Department for Education (DfE) will be offered the location to build a new free school as the local authority wrestles with the challenges of a lack of school places across the city. In a letter, seen by the ECHO, Ms Barker said she previously contacted the local authority in June to “express my significant concerns about the Council’s handling of the disposal of the land at the Fruit and Vegetable site and how this impacted St Anne (Stanley).” Ms Barker said that despite assurances from officers, the cabinet report is a step closer to removing the site as an option for St Anne (Stanley).”
Cllr Tom Logan, cabinet member for education and skills, said resolving the issue of school places was a priority for the council. He added that the site would be “put to the most effective use.”
He told the ECHO: "No decision has been made about what schools will occupy that site. We need a new secondary school, and we need a new building for St Anne' (Stanley) Primary School.
"The site in the report is one option that could be used for either. We are also exploring other options.
Cllr Logan said he had met with Ms Barker and Cllr William Shortall and shared their concerns. He added: "I am devoted to finding a site for a new building."
The cabinet report will now be amended to reflect the possibility of a dual use site, Cllr Doyle said. The Diocese that manages St Anne’s previously identified part of the former fruit and veg site as being a suitable location for a new site.
The council said further investigation is required to assess whether both schools could occupy the land and “through careful planning it may be technically possible”. It was said this could be through reprovision of play areas elsewhere in the immediate vicinity e.g., by releasing the land currently occupied by the existing St Anne’s (Stanley) primary school as playing fields.
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