Page 9 - Archive in reverse date order

• There is no local need for such a business – indeed the supporting documentation suggests that
most of the children will be from outside Bexley Borough. It is purely an opportunistic ‘for-
profit’ business venture by people outside the local area with no interest in the local community
or any concern for the devastation it would cause to local people and other users of these lanes.
There are, therefore, no ‘special circumstances’ that support this Application.

• The locality of the site is totally inappropriate for a school as it does not have the necessary road
and transport infrastructure and child security is virtually impossible.

• The lower section of Parsonage Lane, up to the proposed site, is a steep incline with minimal
passing for vehicles; in fact only cars can pass, not larger vehicles. Multiple vehicles will create
chaos and damage to residents’ properties and banks/verges. Bunkers Hill, although not so
narrow, is equally steep and has similar vehicle passing problems. In winter in icy periods (water
off the fields) Gattons Way will likely be a parking area early morning and mid- afternoon as
drivers will not want, or be able, to negotiate the icy lane.

• Parsonage Lane is a narrow and winding country lane with no pavements. There are two riding
establishments in Parsonage Lane (schools and livery) and, additionally, the lane is used by
ramblers, dog walkers, cyclists and others as it leads to Gattons Plantation and Joydens Wood.
The significant increase in traffic will be a danger to all users.

• If the business fails or the site is sold the site’s re-designated status would leave it open for
applications for schools and/or religious centres of possibly a more radical nature. In the
current/developing climate this is a very real concern.

• The Application documentation is incomplete, lacks detail and appears to deliberately mislead
the true potential/scale of the venture. It is a private school charging fees of some £23,000 per
annum with a starting position of some 55 pupils and 32 members of staff. No mention is made
of auxiliary staff for maintenance, security, catering, groundsmen etc. However, this is a
business that will undoubtedly seek all opportunities to capitalise on the investment so it is
inevitable that:
~ The school will be systematically expanded, bringing in more children, more staff and greater
profits – it’s a large site!
~ The premises and facilities will undoubtedly be made available for other uses such as evening
activities, summer schools, courses etc.
Both will bring increased noise pollution, increased traffic levels, damage to the local
environment and distress to local residents and those visiting these lanes.

Detailed reasons for our objection are set out below.

The Planning Argument

Looked at from the point of view of planning law and Government guidance, the Application fails in
that it does not comply with the NPPF nor with Bexley's own planning policies. We also strongly
dispute the suggestion that the site is brownfield land. Moreover, were a change of use to be granted,
the impact on the Green Belt and the character of the neighbourhood would be severe. Taking each
point in turn:-

Non-compliance with the NPPF
The property’s outbuildings (stables and a barn) are not of a permanent and substantial construction
capable of re-use and their renovation from their derelict state into a school would require much

2