Beech Lodge School is calling on all who have supported its plans to secure its future to put pressure on the new Secretary of State for Communities & Local Government, Sajid Javid MP to make a decision on their proposals.
The school opened in 2013, to provide education for vulnerable children whose particular needs cannot be met in mainstream education. Beech Lodge is currently in temporary accommodation, and continues to receive numerous applications for new pupils, hence the proposals to build a permanent new school building.
The search for a permanent home was thought to be over in October 2014, when the planning application for a 96 pupil school was approved by the Maidenhead Development Control Panel. However, following an objection put forward by the local parish council, the scheme was called in by the then Secretary of State, Sir Eric Pickles, in March 2015. The application then appeared to languish with both Sir Eric and his successor Greg Clark, before finally being heard before a Public Inquiry in January 2016.
Following the Inquiry, a decision was expected before the EU Referendum took place, but that date has since passed. Since Theresa May’s Cabinet reshuffle, Mr Javid has replaced Greg Clark and the school are hoping that the new Secretary of State will provide a swift response to the application.
Daniela Szmigielska Shanly, the school’s founder and Proprietor said:
“We remain hopeful that our plans to expand the school will be supported by the new Secretary of State, as they were by Councillors at the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead.”
“The delay is terribly frustrating as we have done everything in our power to provide the necessary information, and this is likely to bring a further delay. Now we’re just waiting and we feel as if we are in limbo, not knowing what the future will bring.”
“We are encouraging all of those who have supported our application, and the provision of great education to vulnerable children, to write to the new Secretary of State to ask him to support the application and issue a decision as soon as possible.”
If you wish to contact Sajid Javid MP, to encourage him to support Beech Lodge School, please email sajid.javid.mp@parliament.uk AND as the enquiry is regarding the Department for Communities and Local Government please send your message through the online formhttp://forms.communities.gov.uk/ or call 030 3444 5000.
and reference the planning appeal reference – APP/TO355/V/15/3011305
• The planning application reference number is 14/158/FULL
• The application site address is Land South of A404 And North of Stubbings House Henley Road Maidenhead
