Housing a new primary school is the priority for the future use of a former fruit and vegetable market site in Old Swan.
After Liverpool Council announced plans to dispose of an almost nine acre site on Prescot Road for educational use that could involve the building of a new free school, councillors and MPs in the ward registered their concerns about the impact it could have on nearby St Anne (Stanley) Primary School. Paula Barker, Labour MP for Liverpool Wavertree, wrote to the local authority’s cabinet to object to proposals “in the strongest possible terms”.
In August, the council’s executive confirmed that while the site will be made available for a new learning venue, consideration will be given to the possibility of constructing “a free school and/or a new primary school.” Cllr Tom Logan, cabinet member for education and skills, told the portfolio’s select committee a new home for pupils currently at St Anne (Stanley) was now the “prime candidate” for the site.
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The Diocese that manages St Anne’s previously identified part of the former fruit and veg site as being a suitable location for a new site. Cllr Logan said the Diocese was now in discussions with the Department for Education on how to make that a reality.
In a letter, seen by the LDRS, Ms Barker said she previously contacted the local authority in June to “express my significant concerns about the Council’s handling of the disposal of the land at the Fruit and Vegetable site and how this impacted St Anne (Stanley).” Ms Barker said that despite assurances from officers, the cabinet report is a step closer to removing the site as an option for St Anne (Stanley).”
Jonathan Jones, Liverpool Council director of education, said there was currently “no other interest” on the site, other than a potential home for the primary school. Last year, the local authority said further investigation would be required to assess whether both a primary school and free school could occupy the land and “through careful planning it may be technically possible”. It was said this could be through reprovision of play areas elsewhere in the immediate vicinity e.g., by releasing the land currently occupied by the existing St Anne’s (Stanley) primary school as playing fields.
The current primary school opened in 1915 with a number of issues being identified at the site that left it unsafe for pupils.
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