Planning permission was given in June for (P15/V1049/FUL) the conversion of the grass area in the middle of the running track at Tilsley Park to form a synthetic pitch for rugby and football use. It has, up to now, been used as a competitive area for throwing javelin, discus and hammer. The conversion of the grass area has been delayed after protests from throwers who use the facility for winter training.
A second planning application (P15/V2198/FUL) is now being considered by the Vale of White Horse District Planning Department. It involves improvements to the practice throwing area at the side of Tilsley Park, including the addition of floodlighting for winter use.
The prospect of floodlights has brought protests from neighbouring properties, in the line of the new flood lighting – and an objection from the the town council.
The gap between state schools’ facilities and independent schools grows ever wider. It would be wonderful if Abingdon School, St Helens and Our Lady’s could do more work to support our local schools and let them access facilities in downtime for an affordable cost.
From what I have seen, a great many outside organisations already use these schools’ facilities. All three swimming pools are used by local schools, and many regional bodies frequent the facilities, e.g. Trinity netball, county rugby and Thames Valley Youth Orchestra, to name but three. Carswell School has held its sports day at Abingdon School on occasions. Its Science Department also has hosted various inter-school science workshops. The schools’ websites do provide some information about their local collaborations. I think the issue is probably one of visibility–those with children who use the facilities will be more aware of the connections. I absolutely agree with you, Steve, that these schools do have marvellous facilities, and it is important that other organisations should be able to use them–I’m just not sure how much awareness there is of the collaborations already in place.
Sarah, dare I suggest that Steve is not questioning the private schools do on occasion share their superior facilities ? But more so why do they have such ?
We’re constantly being told how the district councils pot is empty, indeed that’s why they’ve “given” away, so the real question is ” if council is so skint they have to give a public asset away, then surely they have a responsibility to you and me (not Abingdon school) to realise the most that/our asset ? It’s a 20 acre site, building sites fetch a £ million pound per acre, so ask the people of Abongdon what they would prefer? Give the public asset away to a school already awash with money or use £20 million pound to improve our community and environment ? At the very least this asset should have been transferred to the county council where it could have benefited the wider community
Tilsley Park cannot be sold. It was gifted to the town. Abingdon School do not own it. They have a lease, and manage it. And they are investing massively in it. It was sad and run down and tatty under its previous management. I understand that Tilsley Park had been a £250,000 a year burden upon the council tax payer. Seems like a win-win situation.
You also ask why it is that private schools have good facilities. The government’s spend per pupil is about £3200 pa, of which a significant proportion is absorbed by LEAs, bureaucracy and policy enforcement, whereas in the private sector, parents typically pay at least four times this amount, which goes directly to the schools concerned.
Private schools are able to invest in new facilities by huge fund raising efforts, with current and past parents and pupils donating what they can afford.
Is that Tilsley Park that has those massive blazing lights that shine alongside the A34 at night? I find them quite dangerous as they’re quite blinding.
Sarah – do you know what proportion of the new Science labs downtime will be made available to local schools?
Like it or loathe it, Abingdon School is a business which adds to Abingdon’s prosperity and invests in our town’s infrastructure. Perhaps we should be grateful?
(Although off subject, their new science block is accessible via the Abingdon Science Partnership.)
Steve–I don’t know about proportions, but have a look here: http://www.abingdon.org.uk/science_in_the_community and have a rootle around the links there. The Saturday Science mornings look promising!
I’m not sure that any Abingdon asset should be given away to a larger council (County, or Vale) as in the case of the Old Gaol (‘given away’ to the Vale) we have been told that proceeds from the development won’t necessarily be spent on Abingdon.
In addition, it was a real shocker to learn that the Government thinks it’s a good idea to gift all the proceeds of business rates to local Government … the folly … I’ve yet to hear of a local government scheme in these parts which anyone likes, or where any involved developer hasn’t hoodwinked the local politicos.
The new science centre has a dedicated Outreach laboratory precisely for engaging with the community.