Parents condemn plans for new police HQ in Morpeth

Nov 28 2009 by David Black, The Journal

WORRIED parents yesterday condemned police plans which could have a major impact on their children’s popular and high-performing school.

The Northumbria Police Authority is consulting on four potential options to redevelop or replace the Victorian police station in Morpeth, Northumberland, which is nearing the end of its operational life.

Two of the options involve building on the play area of the adjacent, 360-pupil Morpeth County First School, which was rated as outstanding by Ofsted following its last inspection in 2007.

Yesterday the plans went on display in Morpeth Town Hall to allow police chiefs to get local feedback before deciding which option to pursue. Parents who attended the exhibition backed their governors – who have already branded the two options which impact on the school site as “totally unacceptable”.

They voiced fears that the redevelopment plans could result in the school having to relocate from its current site close to the town centre.

Nicola Hewitt, whose five-year-old son Jake is a pupil at the school, said: “Obviously I am concerned about the fact that possibly some of the play area could be lost. Where could they put another school? It needs to be centrally located.”

Enrica Newbert of Middle Greens, who has one child at the school, said: “The national curriculum says children should play outside as much as possible, yet these plans could see the school lose its playground. There are worries about the school being pushed out of the area, when the parents want it to stay where it is.”

Melanie Minto said: “How can they get rid of the play area when the Government is pushing for kids to have more outdoor play to help them develop? There is not much outdoor space at the school as it is, so why take away what we have got?”