The view Harris Academy haven't put on their website
Harris Academy has put forward plans for a 1,150 pupil school at Avery Hill.
We oppose crucial elements:
Our main issues:
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the proposed design is non-descript and would spoil the view from the park;
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transport and access could be a nightmare;
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the school and the heritage attraction of a renovated Winter Garden must work in harmony.
What you can do
- Join the Save Avery Hill Campaign's ‘Zoom’ virtual public meetings next week (Monday 11th at 2.30pm and Tuesday 12th at 7.30). Email averyhillpark@hotmail.co.uk to take part.
- Respond to the Harris consultation. They have on-line events on Thursday 14 and 16 May and an email address to write your views;
- Sign the campaign's new petition www.change.org/p/general-public-save-avery-hill-for-the-community
- Be ready to comment on the planning application, due in June.
- Make a donation to the campaign to help us reach more people: www.gofundme.com/f/save-avery-hill
- Watch our video: www: youtu.be/7PhlMtFa4ec
The Harris plans can be seen at: https://www.harrisaveryhill.co.uk/. This is where comments can be made.
Details of our concerns and our proposed solutions
(More background information at https://www.averyhillpark.org.uk/)
ACCESS
PROBLEM: School traffic will block access to the park twice a day. Park visitors will have to wait up to 30 minutes as 1,150 pupils cross Reinkendorff Avenue, which Harris wants to make one-way.
SOLUTION: No school traffic allowed in from Bexley Road.
DESIGN
PROBLEM: Square blocks of glass and green cladding clash with the historic winter garden.
SOLUTION: Harris needs to go back to the drawing board and design in brick, with pitched roofs and smaller blocks.
COMMUNITY USE
PROBLEM: Harris don’t want an agreement with the community over use of the historic building in the evenings, weekends and holidays.
SOLUTION: The community use out of school hours is guaranteed and agreement to this is made before planning permission is granted.
PROBLEM: The Winter Garden needs to be renovated and fully linked with the Mansion.
SOLUTION: Following pressure from the campaign and Royal Greenwich Council, the University of Greenwich has agreed to contribute a substantial sum for its renovation and development, it being handed over to RBG, and then a Trust. Furthermore, it needs to be connected internally to the Mansion to allow flexible usage by the community with joint working arrangements put in place for the site’s future management.
