THE STORY SO FAR

In February Wandsworth Borough Council proposed to sell off more than 60% of Elliott School’s land for private housing and demolish the gym and technology block.

During the public consultation which followed, 96% of respondents were against the Council’s proposed land sale. Since February, our online petition against the plan has collected 574 signatures, approximately 300 letters have been written to the Council opposing their plans as well as letters to English Heritage, Michael Gove and individual MPs. This level of objection is EXTREMELY UNUSUAL during a consultation period.

You can read more about the objections made during the public consultation here.

Of course Wandsworth Borough Council have not changed their minds. However, thanks to everyone’s efforts writing letters, attending demonstrations and consultations and the general support for the campaign against the Council, we have secured a commitment to retain a significant amount of land, including the school’s amphitheatre, reducing the amount of land lost to private developers to 41%.


THE SITUATION NOW

Under the Council’s revised plans the school will still lose TWO THIRDS of its sports facilities, a massive amount of it’s land, and it is still unclear whether the Grade II listed gym and technology block will be demolished. Crucially Wandsworth Borough Council are still refusing to make any investment whatsoever in the school.


WHAT WE NEED YOU TO DO…

Spread the word

We need to demonstrate the size of the opposition to the Council’s plans. Please chase your friends and family and make sure that everyone who is against the sale of school land makes their voice heard by taking action. THIS IS THE ONLY WAY WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND SUPPORT THE SCHOOL.


Sign the petitions

Make sure you have signed BOTH the Local Council and Central Government petitions BEFORE 20th JULY.

Also, please make sure that you have signed the AVAAZ community petition which is heading towards 75,000 signatures!


Write more letters!

Please forward any letters you write and replies you receive to saveelliottschool@gmail.com. This will help us track support for the campaign and ensure that your voice gets heard.

The Council have now issued their Official Notice in the Wandsworth Guardian (5th July) to dispose of 15,070 square metres of school land. Therefore we also need you to write again to Wandsworth Borough Council BY NO LATER THAN FRIDAY 3rd AUGUST. They will not accept emails so we need you to write a real letter, just like the old days, addressed to:

The Assistant Director of Administration (Professional Services)
Wandsworth Borough Council
Room 148
The Town Hall
Wandsworth High Street
LONDON   SW18 2PU

As before you might like to mention some of the points in our sample letter below, feel free to cut and paste or once again write a simple letter plainly stating your objection:

Sample Letter


WHAT HAPPENS NEXT:

Michael Gove’s decision will be given to Wandsworth Council around the end of July. This will trigger:

  1. A Special Meeting of Wandsworth Council’s Finance Committee for which we need a demo. and a deputation.
  2. Planning Application for the site: change of use and access arrangements at least.

These will be the focus of the next round of objections, so keep looking at the website for dates.

Michael Gove has disregarded recommendations from his statutory consultees (English Heritage, Playing Fields Association, Sport England etc.) on his Section 77 Committee, further objections can be made, and national publicity sought. For this we need all your actions, arguments, letters of objection, and signing of petitions.