Controversial plans for 1,200-pupil superschool scrapped (From Croydon Guardian)

Controversial plans to turn Cypress Primary in South Norwood into 1,200-pupil superschool scrapped by Croydon Council

10:04am Thursday 7th March 2013 in News By Chris Baynes, Reporter

Plans for a 1,200-pupil superschool that would have been the biggest primary in Croydon have been scrapped after residents raised serious concerns about the area's ability to cope.

The council had earmarked Cypress Primary in South Norwood to expand its intake by 60 pupils a year, as part of efforts to accommodate rising demand for schools places.

But opponents warned the site was not big enough for the expansion, which would have meant five classes in every year group, and residents feared traffic would grind to a halt.

The council will now look to create new primary places elsewhere, after school governors asked it to sideline plans for Cypress.

Councillor Kathy Bee, chair of governors, said: "There were lots of issues. There is the space, in terms of whether you could actually physically get five forms of entry in there.

"Residents also had lots of concerns about traffic, which is already difficult.

She added: "We agreed to consult because we have a lot of sympathy for families in the area that can't get a school place, but it just proved incredibly difficult to do it without any detailed plans."

Parent Esther Eley, 44, of Auckland Road, whose two children attend the school, said she was relieved.

She said: "It is fantastic news. Everybody in the area will be breathing a huge sigh of relief. It seems public opinion has finally got through."

A spokesman for Croydon Council said: "This proposal presented both significant opportunities and significant challenges. However, an initial review of the site indicated that it was worth pursuing it as a realistic option.

"There were, however, various concerns raised, both by local residents and from within the school community, and we found that there were rising cost estimates associated with the project.

"It also became clear that the development work would be likely to cause undue disruption, both to pupils at the current school and to local residents.

"Alongside this we were faced with rising cost estimates associated with the project.

"On balance it was finally agreed that the risks of trying to continue with this scheme outweighed its possible advantages.

"What this emphasises is that when we carry out consultations we do so with an open mind and we always assess new evidence before reaching our conclusions."