‘Fantastic’ plans for Halesworth Middle School site
By RICHARD WOOD
Friday, August 3, 2012
6:30 AM
Exciting plans for the future of a former middle school were unveiled last night as sport returned to the site’s playing fields this week.
A presentation from planners Feria showed what the future might hold for the former Halesworth Middle School, off Harrisons Lane, with a huge range of sporting facilities for the town.
Cricket, rugby, football, tennis and swimming are among the sports that will be able to be homed at the school, which was closed last month, if the building is released by education secretary of state Michael Gove and enough money can be raised.
Tony Goldson, county councillor for Halesworth and chair of the Halesworth Campus group, said that the site provided a “wonderful opportunity” for the town and that the plans were “absolutely fantastic”.
He said: “We had a meeting some months ago and gave them a vision of what we would look to have. We gave them a wish list of all sports clubs and all interested bodies, our absolute dream sporting complex, and what really shocks us is that they have come up with that.”
He added: “The real thrill is that if we can raise the money there is a 25m, six lane swimming pool which would be phenomenal.”
The school was closed as part of a Suffolk-wide reorganisation of education and Suffolk County Council has offered it for free to the Halesworth Campus group, subject to approval from Mr Gove.
The building is currently being used to store furniture from other closed middle schools, however it is expected to be available for use as an indoor sporting facility from October, ahead of development.
On Wednesday the outdoor sporting area was made available to the group allowing tennis, football and rugby to all be played.
Mr Goldson said that the project had the support of MPs and councils, but will need help to get the money required for the project.
“Everyone has put their weight behind it and Halesworth needs to realise and accept that this can come to reality if they support and back it,” he said.
He added that there was the potential for a hostel to be brought in for tourists, to help generate more income at the site, while it would also give the chance for the North Suffolk Skills Centre to expand.
It is hoped that Halesworth Health will also be able to develop medical facilities on the adjacent Dairy Hill Playing Field.
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13 comments
No insult intended but do u really believe that this Govt gives a monkies about education. Like most Govts they have seized on what they perceive to be a vote winner and r relentlessly pursuing the Academy, Free Sch policy whether they r needed or not and whether their success is proven or not. Like the Grant Maintained schs policy before this is doomed to failure precisely because it is politically driven and not done in the interests of the children and our communities.
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Stanley
Saturday, August 4, 2012
"Becclesboy" - If you had but taken the trouble to read my initial comment properly, you would see that I said that the most sensible place for a Free School was at Halesworth, where there is no secondary school already and where there are plenty of good facilities. On the other hand, perhaps you think that Carlton Colville is ideal, in which case, good for you. You talk about children and politics. It may have escaped your notice that ploughing money into a Free School where none is needed is at the expense of children; especially those in the maintained primaries which feed your Free School, and where the budgets are going down at high speed. Why don't you do the sensible thing and send your children to Woodbridge School, where I am sure they will be educated to your satisfaction, and you will have the pleasure of knowing that you spent your very own money wisely?
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T Doff
Saturday, August 4, 2012
The method of delivery of education is determined by politicians, hence these decisions are political. Children have always been and will always be pawns in a political game. As for Free School exam results, the first full set of GCSEs will not be sat until 2014. Seckford became involved in the free school bid after being contacted by a few members of the community - I would suggest, Becclesboy, that this satisfies your criterion of children being used as political pawns by members of the community?
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Fairplay
Saturday, August 4, 2012
What am I going to do about it? There is nothing we can do about it except remember at election time how inept politicians are when it comes to education policy.
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Stanley
Saturday, August 4, 2012
No insult intended but do u really believe that this Govt gives a monkies about education. Like most Govts they have seized on what they perceive to be a vote winner and r relentlessly pursuing the Academy, Free Sch policy whether they r needed or not and whether their success is proven or not. Like the Grant Maintained schs policy before this is doomed to failure precisely because it is politically driven and not done in the interests of the children and our communities.
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Stanley
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Please do not insult me, I would prefer my children to be educated rather than used as political pawns by members of the community.
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becclesboy
Friday, August 3, 2012
The school is happening. Children will be educated. What are you going to do?
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becclesboy
Friday, August 3, 2012
Not about politics ...... R u having a laugh. It is PURELY about politics. How naive can u get?
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Stanley
Friday, August 3, 2012
Becclesboy u display extraordinary naivety: Free Schs and Academies r purely politically driven and and children don't even come into the equation.
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Stanley
Friday, August 3, 2012
As you can obviously see into the future, perhaps you could advise the Lottery numbers for the next draw?? The school isn't open yet and you already know the exam results? Again I state, this isn't about Politics, it's about CHILDREN, perhaps you don't actually understand what I am saying?
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becclesboy
Friday, August 3, 2012
Well, they won't get one at BFS. If that's not a political and ideologically driven plan, designed by Tories to snaffle up middle school sites come what may, then my name is Gove.
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T Doff
Friday, August 3, 2012
Blah, Blah, Blah - the sooner people like T Doff realise schools are about CHILDREN and EDUCATION rather than playing politics the better. Beccles Free School is happening whether he likes it or not
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becclesboy
Friday, August 3, 2012
I hope that the town gets the school, but, if there were a sensible place to put a Free School rather than the unnecessary, under-subscribed and divisive Beccles one, then this would have been it.
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T Doff
Friday, August 3, 2012