Special school site may be turned into homes, open space
COMMUNITY open space could be part of a plan to redevelop the former Bownham Park special school.
Residents' groups and Rodborough Parish Council are being consulted about ideas for the site by its owners Gloucestershire County Council.
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The former Bownham Park School
Half the old school and playing fields may be left as open space while the rest is sold for housing, neighbour Graham Hopkins said.
Bownham Park was closed in summer 2003 by the county council as part of its plans to intergrate special education needs pupils into mainstream schools after parents battled for three years to save it.
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Mr Hopkins, chairman of the Bownham Park Rodborough Residents' Association, said the new proposals seemed "quite acceptable". He said: "The only development would be where the existing school is. It looks quite good.
"One possibility is for 10 or 11 new houses of similar size to those at Bownham Park and Bownham Mead. Another is for four relatively luxurious homes."
The county met the residents' association, parish council and representatives from nearby Bownham Mead and Shepherd's Well. There was talk of a possible storage area for equipment for the remaining playing space and, perhaps, toilets.
The parish council was being asked to take over the playing fields, Mr Hopkins said.
A parish council spokesman said members were interested, in principle. Negotiations are continuing.
Neil Corbett, the county's head of corporate property services, said the discussions were positive.
He anticipates a small number of houses and community open space would be included on the site. Formal consultation would follow submission of a planning application, he said.
The nearby Amberley Ridge Special School was also more recently shut by the county. Potential options for that site, in Minchinhampton parish, were being considered, said Mr Corbett.
Comments
by cd101998
Monday, February 11 2013, 4:00AM
“I hate everyone who decided to let those mean people tear down Bownham Mead shcool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU!!!!!!!!!!! This is just an fallen down old school to you but to me it means the world!! It was my childhood!!!I live right next to it and played there almost EVERY day after school and EVERY weekend!!! I know there's a will that said it could only be used for children!!!!!I hope the ghost of the man who made that will will haunt you!!!! I can't stop crying I think of this terrible thing every day!!!! You are evil people and you just weaved your through that contract!!!!!!!!I HATE YOU!!!”