Pegasus Post: November 28, 2017

PEGASUS POST Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
Tuesday November 28 2017 3
News
MP joins fight to stop school site sale
Bid to keep hall
for community
use ramps up
• By Sophie Cornish
CHRISTCHURCH East MP
Poto Williams may have her
first challenge as a part of the
new Government – saving the
Central New Brighton School
site.
Pressure is now on Ms Williams
to halt the sale of the site,
which includes Roy
Stokes Hall. It could
be sold to private
developers.
The site is set to
Poto
Williams
go on the market
in February. Ms
Williams has been
in contact with both
the minister of education and
minister for land information
about the issue.
“I am hopeful that (Minister
of Education Chris (Hipkins)
will think about the concerns of
the community and realise how
well loved the Roy Stokes Hall is
within the area.”
The hall was built following
a large fundraising effort from
the community, which spanned
more than 15 years.
COMMUNITY EFFORT: Sylvia Smyth, Sue Davidson, Lisa
Wingfield and Chris Sarrow are among those pushing to save
Roy Stokes Hall on the old Central New Brighton School site.
Coastal-Burwood Ward city
councillor David East has another
idea to save the school.
“A concern is the fact that
the Ministry of Education have
underestimated the need for a
school on this side of town. They
amalgamated three of them and
Rawhiti is bursting at the seams
now and South Brighton is heading
that way.”
“Going forward, it may well be
that we need another school in
the not too distant future. Maybe
the site needs to be re-developed
Helping us,
Helps tHe
community
Drop off or buy
for a smaller school.”
Land Information New Zealand
is currently in the process
of organising the site’s sale on
behalf of the Ministry of Education.
However, Ms Williams said the
sale was not yet definite.
“There is a chance it could be
halted. The site is in a process
but I understand officials are
providing advice to the minister
(of education) at the moment,”
she said.
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Sylvia Smyth wants Ms Williams
to put pressure on to save the
site. “We are hoping she will
help move it forward and she has
been helping already. She has
already written to the minister
(for land information).”
“We are also writing letters to
the minister, so it’s all a full community
effort,” she said.
Ms Williams said there was
a wider issue regarding vacant
school sites on the east.
“We know how tragic it was
having the schools closed in the
first place – we can see the absolute
value of those schools turned
into community hubs. I hope
that that provides enough reason
to show, at least in the shortterm,
that it’s the best outcome
for the community.”
Currently there are demolition
plans for the old Aranui High
School site as well.
The Coastal-Burwood Community
Board has agreed to
write to the Ministry of Education
to request a meeting to
potentially halt the demolition,
so community groups can use
the buildings.
•HAVE YOUR SAY: Do you
believe school sites on the
east side should be saved
and used by the community?
Email your views to sophie.
cornish@starmedia.kiwi
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Fire rages, homes at risk
TOOL COULD SAVE LIVES
The Coastal-Burwood
Community Board has approved
a grant for an automated
external defibrillator to service
Southshore and South New
Brighton. The Southshore
Residents’ Association requested
$2900 for the defibrillator, which
will be located at the South
New Brighton Holiday Park.
There is an automated external
defibrillator at South Brighton
School, which can be used during
school hours, but the next closest
option is in New Brighton, where
there are six.
ROCKABILLY VENUE
Rockabilly Show and Shine
organiser Robbie Baigent is still
waiting on a response from the
city council on whether the event
will go ahead at Rawhiti Domain
next year. Organisers have
clashed with the Christchurch
Archery Club – which also uses
space in the domain – over event
dates, noise and health and safety.
If the organisers cannot find an
acceptable date to hold the event,
which attracted more than 8000
people this year, they may have to
find a new location. Mr Baigent
will make a deputation at the
Coastal-Burwood Community
Board meeting on Monday about
the matter.
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