School expansion plans under threat
A SCHOOL for children with special needs could lose some of its land for housing, de- spite its plans to expand. Five Acre Wood School in Boughton
Lane, Loose, caters for children and young people with profound learning difficulties. KCC education officer David Adams has
said the aim is for Five Acre Wood to in- crease to 260 places. KCC, which owns the freehold of the site, is unable to sell off land, but is talking to the Future Schools Trust, which owns the neighbouring New Line Learning Academy, about leasing the site. Thereafter, KCC and Future Schools could
agree for land to be put forward for housing development, with both parties taking a share of the proceeds. KCC Cllr Brian Clark said, “Five Acre
Wood School will be left on a site proposed for major housing development, with no room to expand as it needs”. There was a public consultation in 2007,
but thiswas prior to residential development plans.
Boughton Lane is declared “at capacity”
by KCC Highways department and Cllr Clarke said: “KCC and Future Schools Trust may be happy to cash in at this site today, but the other site occupants and residents will certainly feel the pain tomorrow.” The lease should be signed by the end of
this month, but Cllr Clarke believes the change in circumstances and time lapse since the consultation means it should be reviewed in its entirety. But Cllr Gary Cooke, KCC’s cabinet mem-
ber for corporate and democratic services, said: “The amount of land to be transferred to Future Schools Trust is governed by statute and subject to a legal agreement dat-
ing back to 2007. “I am advised that KCC is not able to withhold its consent to the lease, and were it to do so, the Secretary of State would order the transfer of the site in line with leg- islation.” Cllr Cooke, who is a governor at New Line Learning Academy, the Cornwallis Acad- emy and the Tiger Primary Free School, said: “We do not as amatter of policy trans- fer any more land to schools becoming academies, than we are required to. “No decisions have been taken to dispose
of any parts of the academy site, although I am aware there have been discussions with a developer in respect of the playing fields.
“Under the terms of the lease the Acad-
emy Trust is not able to dispose of any land without the consent of the freeholder, KCC.” If KCC decided to dispose of any of the
land, development proposals would go be- fore planners, said Cllr Cooke. He added: “As part of our Special School Review we are committed to addressing both the building suitability issues at Five Acre Wood, as well as its potential expan- sion. “Work is underway to ensure the viability
of the school.We will continue to keep the school fully up to date with developments related to site management issues.”
Festival provides a taste of Thailand
THAI food, Thai massage, Thai music and Thai boxing provided a magi- calmix for visitors to the first ThaiFood and CraftFestival inMaidstone. The event, at Mote Park,was organised by the Thai Solent Society to
teach visitors more about their local Thai communities and what the country has to offer. Aswell as demonstrations and craft stalls, visitorswere also offered a chance to win a trip to Thailand, to find out even more.
Traditional Thai dance and a
ladyboys show (right) were among attractions at the Thai Festival Pictures by Andy Archer
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