Plans for Beaucamps are "unacceptable"

Wednesday 22 January 2020

The Castel Douzaine has offered its two cents on plans to expand Les Beaucamps High School to form one of the two colleges under Guernsey's new model of secondary education.

While it did not want to praise nor criticise the education model itself, the Parish said it thought traffic plans had not properly been thought out, and that there would not be enough outdoor space after work was done to the school.

In its letter, the Douzaine said it wanted to focus on the planning proposals and the Traffic Impact Assessment. It also encouraged parishioners to attend the regular surgery the Douzaine hosts to reinforce their objections.

Following a Douzaine meeting where the matter was discussed, Mick Fooks, Castel's Dean, said: "We believe that the proposed development at Les Beaucamps is disproportionate to the size of the land available, and the Douzaine have concerns about the management of traffic which does not seem to have been properly considered or assessed. 

"The expansion of the school may appear feasible, but the Douzaine believes the loss of existing amenities at the school is unacceptable, particularly the loss of outdoor spaces, we will be reflecting these views in our response to the DPA.

"While the Douzaine will be making its own collective response to the DPA, we have informed Castel Parishioners who have contacted us to submit their own views in writing to the Department before the deadline of the 23 January." 

One of the main concerns the Douzaine said it had was whether the Traffic Impact Assessment was accurate or not, as it questioned some of the statistics and data. Finally, it highlighted in its response to the DPA the change in culture that would be needed to have a 'park and stride' system for children to get to school. 

Mr Fooks said he had welcomed the assurance from ESC that they would continue to consult with them and residents around Les Beaucamps. 

Pictured: 88 staff at St Sampson's High also sent a letter this week, outlining their concerns with the 'two-school' model. 

The letter written by the Castel Douzaine adds to other criticism levied at the education plans.

Last week, a meeting arranged by St Sampson's douzaine saw all but two attendees raise their hands to say they don't think the new system will work. More than 95% of staff teaching at the Baubigny high school have also gone public with their concerns, sending an open letter to ESC outlining the problems they perceive with the plans. 

While work on the transformation of secondary education has already started and is said to be two years into a five year plan, it could all be put on pause while a review is carried out.

A draft requête has been published this week, with deputies Andrea Dudley Owen, Rob Prow and Carl Meerveld leading the political efforts to get the matter deferred until after the planned island wide election in June, by when they say more information will be known and can be assessed again by deputies. 

Pictured top: Les Beaucamps.