Multi-million pound proposals to build a new 900-place academy school in Telford look set to be given the thumbs-up by councillors.
Members of Telford & Wrekin Council’s plans board are set to discuss plans to replace Madeley Academy, formerly Madeley Court School, with a new development near to the existing school.
The Madeley Academy Trust has submitted an application to Telford & Wrekin Council to build an academy for youngsters aged 11-16 at Castlefields Way, near the junction of Woodside Avenue, Woodside.
Councillors are being recommended to grant permission at a meeting next Wednesday.
The plans also include a vocational training centre, a gatehouse, three freestanding and six roof-mounted wind turbines, five turf and four five-a-side pitches, a floodlit athletics track and new vehicular and pedestrian access.
The school was granted academy status in April and its main sponsor is the Thomas Telford School.
Vic Maher, headteacher, said he thought the plans were “fantastic”.
He said: “The plan is that in September 2009 we would have a new building. I think it is fantastic for the south of Telford which, really, if you compare it with the rest of Telford, is the poor relation.
“For the children to have a state-of-the-art building would be a sense of pride in the whole community.
“The children are excited about it; they are really looking forward to it.”
Mr Maher said the training centre would be a “fantastic bonus” for the school community.
“Currently it is very difficult to find appropriate training,” he said.
“The training courses will be for our own students in Year 9 onwards – academic education is not right for every student.”
Mr Maher said he wanted to make sure every student who left the school got into “something appropriate”, either academically, through sixth form college or through employment.
“When I got here four years ago there were a lot of students who left and did not know what to do and I don’t want that for our children any more,” he said.
By Deborah Collins
See Also:
6 Comments
Why does this development have to be placed on a greenfield site? Could it not be built on the existing site of Madeley School.
Mr Maher may be excited but this just fills me with dread as yet more green land is built upon. Why does it need wind turbines? Solar panels would be as effective and a lot less intrusive.
Report abuse
Like Barrie I can’t understand why we need to build a new school building on a greenfield site when there are already 2 rxisting schools bordering the Woodside estate. Why can’t the exising Madely Academy building be renovated?
In addition I believe the siting of the proposed school adjacent to the Woodside roundabout will cause major traffice problems during the morning rushour.
Report abuse
Why the hell do they need a new school when the existing school is just as good. They are spending loads of money improving the school which is just a waste. Why not spend money on stopping world hunger. Also they are building on fields which people walk dogs on and people play on. WASTE OF TIME!!!
Report abuse
I walked past this development site yesterday with my dogs, and already they are bulldozing the trees down, it breaks my heart that every scrap of green land in Telford is being built on, it used to be a pleasant place to live because of its walks and wild habitats, now its turning into a nightmare town, with rising crime levels and no green places for people to go because of constant overdevelopment. Telford council should be ashamed of themselves.
Report abuse
I agree totally, why do they need to destroy one of the very few greenfield sites in telford, i thought this council was about “Protecting the envoroment”
not DESTROYING IT!!!
and where in the hell was the consultation with the public!
just spoken to a local councillor on the phone and he has raised objections over it many times, who do Telford & Wrekin council think they are!
I for one will fight this all the way!!!!
Report abuse
It is such a shame for the loss of these green places. When Councillors voted this through, I wonder if they bothered to talk to local people about their concerns. I think Telford Council should be ashamed of itself. Also there are plans to re build Abraham Darby and amalgamate it with Woodlands Primary. I wonder if the land where the Woodlands now stands will be used to build the usual unaffordable rabbit hutches, yet another bit of space around Woodside gone no doubt.
Have the Council given the public any timetable for objecting to the new Academy?
Report abuse