Appendix 1: Proposal to expand Ravenor Primary ... - Ealing Council

extra level of pollution to the present high level of pollution due to the proximity ofHeathrow, the North Circular, Hanger Lane Gyratory system, and the very busy A40.School catchment: It is understood that at present there are pupils, attending St.Gregorys School, who are not local residents but are driven in from as far away asSudbury Hill and Harrow. The proposed very significant increase in pupil numbers,and such a widespread catchment area will surely result in more pupils from thefringe catchment areas with associated unwelcome traffic increase, and the antisocialand unwelcome things that will surely come with that increase.Loss of valuable asset of school playing field: currently large enough toaccommodate football tournaments, sports days etc. Increased risk of flooding tohouses in Woodfield Crescent because of water run-off. Suggested increase inschool population is outside immediate area: extra places should be provided wherepupils live - St. Gregory's is known to be excellent school: to spoil it would bemadness. A building site (estimated at three years) is not the best place to teach orlearn: implications for health, safety etc. Brentham Garden Estate would be affected:The Article 4 Direction under the Town and Country Planning Act coversinappropriate development around the periphery of a conservation area as well aswithin it's borders. The Brentham Garden Estate is a credit to the Borough and hasadmirers in many parts of the world - not least the Prince of Wales. If the proposalincludes the destruction of trees, including three mature and beautiful oaks - allcovered by Tree Protection Orders - this would be a loss of visual amenity.There is no need for expansion based on children within catchment requiring places -inevitably therefore the children are being taken from the catchment of other schoolswhich will suffer as a consequence. The area around the school is landlocked. Thefunding is not guaranteed and it is therefore possible that the school will embark onexpansion but not get the improvements in facilities that are being promised.Pick up and drop off, are totally hazardous. The traffic surrounding the school isgridlocked most mornings, local children do tend to walk, but many children aretravelling in from Hanwell, West Ealing, Acton, Wembley and Yeading.I live in Fairlea Place, a small private estate in a cul-de-sac backing on to the existingSt.Gregory school. For years we have had to put up with the worsening noise, lightand traffic pollution caused by the existing school. Parents delivering and collectingtheir children use our estate as a public car park. Despite our obvious notice boardsthe parents use our property to turn and park their vehicles. This means twice-dailytraffic congestion together with that in Woodfield Road. Our motoring residents areoften unable to get in or out of the estate and frequently find they cannot even getinto their garages. Whilst in Fairlea Place the children, their parents and theirvehicles pay scant regard for our grassed areas and gardens. They pick our flowersand fruit from our trees. When politely spoken to, parents are either rude or ignoreus. Enlarging the school would make things even worse. There is no room for theextra traffic, especially in Woodfield road where two bus routes already experiencegreat difficulty in getting through at school times. Proposed use of the access lane atthe northern end of our estate would then mean we are completely boxed in by theschool, its access and its increased traffic in Woodfield Road. This would havefurther detrimental effect on the value of our property. For many years I served onour Residents Committee and I am consequently all too aware of the problemscaused by the school. This is, or was, a quiet residential area, I know I speak forFairlea Place residents when I say enough is enough, no expansion of St.Gregoryschool.45