A community centre in an Isle of Wight coastal town may be transformed into a facility for educating children with special educational needs.
New Forest Care has sought planning permission for a change of use of St Andrews Community Centre on St Andrews Street in Cowes.
The proposed education use is intended to provide schooling for a small number of students, with up to 10 children present at any one time, according to a statement from the applicant’s agent, Spruce Town Planning.
It says:
“The change of use is justified in this case as a result of the potential for the proposed use to help meet educational needs within the town and to provide employment for staff.
“The use of the site as an education and care facility will make an important contribution to the mix of education facilities on the Island. It therefore contributes towards the social wellbeing of the area.”
Spruce Town Planning says the use will not operate to a set timetable, owing to the needs of the children whose age range will be between 6 and 18 years old.
No external alterations are needed for the building or parking area and the character and appearance of the area will therefore be preserved, according to the consultancy.
The Isle of Wight Council’s public consultation on application 26/00965/FUL closes on 28th August and a decision is expected on 18th September.
And who is going to operate this school?
I apprciate there is a bottomless pit of money for education of these so called SEND pupils who need nothing more than being told NO more often, considering the amount of school buildings on the island vacant or under used this application is redundant before it starts.
ANOTHER send school??! How many do we need? As the comment above says: these kids often just need to be told NO!
The provider’s are onto an absolute winner with us tax payers paying the overinflated bill. Keep St Andrews as a community hub.
How many of these send schools do we need, the latest of many of these units, all that is needed is a class room in a main school to be put to one side for those who refuse to learn.