Ashley Grange Residents Organisation

Parents, residents and youth groups concerned about the expansion of Sefton Park School

News

There hasn't been an update for a while. Some recent news:

1st May 2009: Cabinet meeting approves decision to build single-form entry school at Brunel Fields. The details are here on page 19, "NEW PRIMARY SCHOOL - BISHOPSTON WARD": Cabinet Decisions 30th April 2009. Residents submitted statements and questions about Ashley House, the Councils answers are here: Public Forum Answers. During the meeting, the Brunel Fields school decision was agenda item 12 and had an associated report: New Primary School – Bishopston Ward.

The Evening Post reported the decision: Bristol primary gets the green light

3rd April 2009: Expansion of Sefton Park School won't be discussed for at least six years. Sefton Park School agreed to take an extra form of entry in 2009. One of the conditions of this agreement was that the Council would be "committed to not expanding the school further for at least six years". Read the Governors letter here: Governors Letter 3rd April 2009 and an article in the Evening Post here: Bristol schools agree to take extra pupils

25th March 2009: Is Ashley House safe? In a telephone conversation with Mick Branaghan on 25th March 2009, he admitted that the school has asked for bigger playground space and that one of the options is to demolish Ashley House. However he said that there are no plans to do anything with Ashley House for at least 12 months and that if the decision was taken to demolish Ashley House, the Council would consult again with the public because of the strength of feeling locally.

A resident has submitted a Freedom Of Information request on the issue which is not yet closed. See here: Demolition Of Ashley House.

Click here for more news

What's happening at Sefton Park School?

The Education Department are planning to expand Sefton Park School by 50%. They will do this by demolishing the 150-year old Ashley House and replacing it with a new modern school building.

Sefton Park is a great school! And we need more primary school places!

True. But Bristol Council should create more primary places as proposed back in 2006 i.e. building a new school at Brunel Fields near the Cricket Ground - NOT by demolishing a historic building and creating a congested mega-school in a busy cul-de-sac.

Hmmm. But I expect the Council know best.

Why are the residents so cross about the new proposals?

The three main reasons are that (i) we do not believe that the expansion proposed is best for the children or local residents (ii) we oppose the destruction of a historic building and (iii) the Council have been very underhand in announcing the proposals. For full details have a look at our Objections. Also at the News, History and Expansion Plans.

What's it going to look like?

We're not 100% certain yet. The architects employed by the Council (David Kent Architects) have presented three proposals, none of which are satisfactory. You can see them here: Sefton Park Schools Expansion Consultation

Each plan is at least two storeys high, but in the case of Option 1, three storeys high topped off with netting! Only Option 2 keeps Ashley House. Currently the layout of the school and Ashley House looks like this:

AGRO stands for Ashley Grange Residents Organisation. The organisation started as a group of concerned residents in Williamson Road and St Bartholomews Road directly affected by the proposed school expansion. It is an historical reference, in that the houses here are built on land which once formed part of the Ashley Grange estate. For more history of Ashley House, click History.

I'd like to know more

I'd like to help

I'd like to get in touch

Feel free to ask questions, or ask to be put on a mailing list for news and information. For contacts click on Contacts and Links