Jo Negrini
Divisional Director of Enterprise & Regeneration
Lambeth Council
Dated:
Monday, 29th June 2009
Link here:
http://kaplanning.blogspot.
there is an article in Tuesday’s South London Press
‘U-turn on church’s plan for school site’
It does not appear to be available on their website, so I have copy typed it below.
Best wishes
Cathy Preece
KA Administrative Assistant
‘U-turn on church’s plan for school site’
By Chief Reporter
GREG TRUSCOTT
A TOWN HALL has U-turned over controversial plans to sell a former school site to a church.
Labour-run Lambeth had planned to sell the former Lilian Baylis School grounds in Kennington to All Nations Church (ANC).
Lambeth’s Labour leaders had selected the Kennington-based church as its ‘lead partner’ to run the site – which provides sports facilities to young people, a nursery and children’s centre.
But after long negotiations it has emerged that the council now intends to ‘decommission’ the project.
In a report to the borough’s cabinet, a council officer has stated that the proposed offer from the ANC was too low.
It states: ‘The offer proposed by ANC entailed a substantial discount below market value, which the council could not justify through demonstration of public benefit.’
The report states that the council will continue to run the site at an annual cost of £380,000 until a suitable new buyer is found who will agree to keep the community facilities of the site.
It has been estimated that investment of up to £10million is required to bring the buildings – close to the Ethelred Estate – back into full use.
The proposed council and ANC partnership had been the subject of criticism from some groups.
Earlier this year chairwoman of community group the Kennington Association Anna Tapsell wrote to the council urging them not to enter into an agreement with the church.
She said: “The stated beliefs of All Nations are based on a very literal ready of the Bible and include the statement, ‘We believe in the utter depravity of human nature, the necessity of repentance and regeneration and the eternal doom of the finally impenitent’.
“These beliefs will not lead them to engender a sense of worth amongst young people who are disaffected and need to feel encouraged and loved, not ‘evil’ and ‘sinful’.
“And we are concerned about potential intolerance to minorities, such as gays and lesbians.”
An ANC spokeswoman said no one was available to comment.
greg.truscott@slp.co.uk
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