Fears over plans to open new school near Thornbury

Education provider Witherslack Group submitted plans to open a SEN school at boutique hotel and conference centre Old Church Farm in Rudgeway.

If approved, the school would be open to 50 pupils aged five to 12 with a range of complex learning needs.

The change of use application was submitted to South Gloucestershire Council in August. So far, there have been seven objection comments from members of the public.

Multiple concerns have been raised about the suitability and safety of the historic site as well as proposed access by neighbours and fears over water pressure.

The plan has been described as ‘insensitive’, ‘unsuitable’ and could damage the nearby ancient Old St Helen’s churchyard and the site’s 18th century Dutch gardens.

The proposed site is located near St Helen's Church in Rudgeway (Image: Witherslack Group)Proposals include installing fencing and gates, putting in a MUGA, plus extending the existing car park to 45 spaces including eight EV charging points.

In addition, a bungalow on the site would be demolished and replaced with a single-storey teaching block.

It comes as the same applicant opened a new SEN school known as Castlefell School also in Rudgeway off the A38 earlier this year in April.

“In our opinion the increased traffic will critically compromise the safety of all road users,” one resident said.

“It would undoubtedly result in increased noise and traffic congestion for those living in the immediate vicinity, an issue that the application ignores.”

Many residents point out there are nearby closed schools which could be more suitable such as the Sheiling School in Thornbury and Silverhill School in Winterbourne.

(Image: Google Maps) One person said: “I fully understand and support the need for more SEN schools in the area, but I strongly believe that Old Church Farm is the wrong site for a school.”

Another said: “The applicants in this case give no indication of any attempts they have made to find a suitable or existing school building, which do not require the alterations that they propose to make to the historic, listed Church Farm.

“They do not explain why they have chosen a wholly unsuitable building for their school, which not only requires the boxing of delicate Elizabethan plaster ceilings, but the boxing of 16th century fireplaces and panelling, the boxing of a very fine 17th century stair, and substantial potential damage to the archaeology of the garden.

“Further, they fail to explain how a building, which, having evolved over nearly a thousand years and has multiple changes in floor levels both upstairs and down, can ever be made negotiable by wheelchair users.”

In planning documents, the applicant says the current hotel owners want to ‘wind-down’ their existing operations.

The hotel, which has eight rooms, was previously owned by Rolls-Royce until 2017.

According to the application, the school would operate from 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday with pupils attending between 8.30am to 3.30pm.

It is believed 40 full-time jobs could be created if plans are approved.

Other plans also include installing a hardstanding play area and an educational kitchen garden with raised beds and fruit trees.

It is understood the consultation period for the application was extended by a SGC senior planning officer.

A planning document reads: “Due to the unprecedented demand, we now seek to open an additional school within close proximity to enable us to increase capacity.

“This planning application therefore provides an exciting opportunity to create additional much needed SEN school places in South Gloucestershire offering pupils with a range of excellent facilities and an educational experience set within a beautiful and relaxing rural setting.”

You can view the application quoting P24/01863/F or see here - tinyurl.com/2j8yvyk9