PAPER F

Purpose : For Decision

Committee :    EXECUTIVE

Date :              2 JULY 2002

Title :              LAND ADJOINING NETTLESTONE PRIMARY SCHOOL, NETTLESTONE

PORTFOLIO HOLDERS - RESOURCES AND EDUCATION AND LIFELONG LEARNING

SUMMARY/PURPOSE

The Executive is being asked to consider a land acquisition to improve the entrance at Nettlestone Primary School and, subject to planning permission being obtained for this purpose, the terms proposed are being recommended to the Council.

BACKGROUND

The entrance to Nettlestone Primary School is extremely restricted and has been a cause of concern over many years. In the past the Council has endeavoured to acquire adjoining land to form a new entrance to the school but to date has not been successful. Generally, there is traffic congestion around the Nettlestone Green area, which is known to the Head of Highways and Transportation, and this situation is frustrated further during school term time. This congestion can prove particularly problematic during peak periods, there is extremely limited car parking in the general vicinity for parents and the only means of access currently available to the school facilities is via a narrow entrance for both pedestrians and vehicles.

The entrance point is located at the brow of Nettlestone Hill and is on a comparatively tight bend restricting visibility to the north. The location of the junction with Green Corner immediately opposite compounds this access difficulty. Such a poor access arrangement may be detrimental to the long term viability of the school in terms of expansion and redevelopment of the site. Configuration of the site buildings is such that plant and machinery needed to service the playing fields have no means of practical access except over third party property.

An established licence has been in place for many years for grounds maintenance machinery to access the playing field. Notice has been served on the Council to terminate this agreement. With a view to resolving the situation five options have been explored, including road entrances from Nettlestone Hill, acquisition of lands and buildings along Nettlestone Green and access as far away as Longlands Lane. The Council has more recently been in discussions with the landowner immediately adjacent the existing driveway who has now put forward an offer to the Council to acquire part of his property. The terms of that offer are set out in the confidential report appended and a site plan of the land being offered is shown on the location plan attached to this report.

The offer put forward is on the basis that the Council would proceed with this land acquisition almost immediately.

In bringing these terms to the Council, Members will note that planning permission should first be sought and as such any contract would be subject to planning permission being granted.

Given the Council does proceed with this acquisition then it would enable the school to formulate a driveway for vehicles both in and out of the school, together with a new footway leading into the school premises and a proper parking area which would leave room for tractors and other vehicles to access the school playing field.

CONSULTATIONS

Discussions on these issues have been on-going with the school Governors over many years and the Governors would request that the opportunity now presented should be considered very seriously by the Council.

PLANNING

This site is located in development envelope as shown on Unitary Development Plan and there is therefore no objection in principle to residential development of the site subject to more detailed matters which in this particular case relate specifically to impact on street scene and highway consideration.

LEGAL

The land to be acquired is understood to be freehold and free from any restriction or unusual outgoing.

FINANCE

The cost of acquiring this land can be contained within the existing budget and the adaptions to this property and works would be part of the Education capital proposal being put forward in next year's programme.

OPTIONS

1.        That the Council proceed with this acquisition subject to planning permission being granted.

2.        That the Council seek some alternative way to improve the access at Nettlestone Primary School.

RECOMMENDATION

That the Council proceed with option 1.

BACKGROUND PAPERS

None

Contact Point:             Tony Flower, Head of Property Services ☎ 823263