Hands off Preston Park - Latest

8.31.58am GMT Fri 5th Feb 2010

Protestors in the Park

Eaglescliffe Liberal Democrat councillors are disappointed to read the long-awaited report to Stockton Council's Cabinet on proposals for secondary schools in Eaglescliffe, Yarm and Ingleby Barwick. The report shows that not only the overflow car park but the nearby allotment site and much of the field below the car park would be needed if Egglescliffe School were to be rebuilt on Preston Park. But the report does not state clearly the many reasons for rejecting the idea of building on Preston Park, a suggestion which has been loudly condemned by residents of Eaglescliffe and across the region. The report states: Development of a school within the park and allotment site…could contribute significantly to realising aspects of the Park Masterplan (e.g. improved community leisure facilities, parking and road layout, visual amenity).

Cllr John Fletcher said "This is a judgement with which thousands would disagree. Almost 3000 people signed a petition against building in the Park. More than 300 attended a public meeting on the subject and no-one agreed that a school building would improve the Park. We now call on Cabinet to have the courage to make the right decision on February 11th. No more public money should be spent on this option."

The council's cabinet will be presented with a report on the pros and cons of each site and asked to agree a short list of sites for further detailed study. Each of these studies is estimated to cost about £40,000. Liberal Democrats believe that not a penny more should be spent on the Preston Park option, which clearly is not deliverable.

Note: The full report can be read on Stockton Councils website at http://www.egenda.stockton.gov.uk/aksstockton/users/public/admin/kab71.pl?cmte=CAB

The Cabinet will meet in public to decide the issue at 1630 on Thursday Feb 11th in the Lecture Theatre of Stockton Central Library.