Battle of the 4x4s
A long-running dispute in south Norwich has taken an interesting twist, which puts the future of a local school in jeopardy.
The row is between local residents and parents who drop their children off at two private schools near Newmarket Road. Last week, councillors took the bold step of rejecting a planning application, because they felt the balance had swayed too far in favour of the families in 4x4s.
With schools starting back on Monday, residents in the Ablemarle Road area will return to what they describe as the “sheer bedlam” of term time. Over a thousand staff and pupils at Norwich High School for Girls, combined with parents dropping off at nearby Stretton School, converge on the narrow streets.
The latest twist, in a row that’s been on-going for years, centres on a planning application from Stretton School. Set up 41 years ago, the independent nursery and preparatory school caters for over 100 children aged 1-8. But permission to run a nursery from the residential property came with a condition. The school’s planning permission only runs for the lifetime of the headmistress. And it was this clause that Stretton School was seeking to lift.
Councillors took the unusual step of turning down the application. Parents who drop off their children at the schools were described as “aggressive”, “arrogant” and “rude”, by residents who attended the planning meeting, often obstructing the road and parking illegally. The councillors decided to send a strong message to the school that it must work harder to be a good neighbour.
Stella Maynard, a representative for The Cedars Sheltered Housing Scheme on Ablemarle Road said: “The cars are often backed up 2 or 3 abreast. They block the entrance to The Cedars. Carers can’t get in – they are often delayed by about 10 minutes before they can gain access. At times, doctors and health visitors also need to gain access first thing in the morning.”
She added, while the Stretton School parents contribute, it’s parents of pupils at the High School who are also to blame: “We at The Cedars would like to put a direct question to any parent of a pupil at the High School. Why do they have to drive their children right to the door?”
Yvonne Barnett, headmistress and founder of Stretton School says they will appeal. She feels the problem has been compounded by the city council itself, who’ve granted planning permission to allow the schools to expand. She said: “Many of these people [objecting] have moved in in the past 10 years. I think people who’ve come to live in this road, came to live here knowing there were two schools on it. We can’t do any more. We’ve been here 41 years, the High School has been here 130 years.” She added that Stretton School has a travel plan, encouraging parents to lift share and to use the Park and Ride.
City councillors have chosen to back the local community to try to bring about a change in attitude. Residents who live in the area believe neither school will put pressure on parents to park further away, because they are fee-paying. But with term starting next week, the time may finally have come for the schools to concede a change is needed. Unless the situation improves, the future of Stretton School is uncertain.
Norwich High School for Girls were unable to comment, as staff don’t return until Monday.
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