GO-AHEAD FOR £3M SCHOOL FACELIFT

By Richard Wright - Wednesday, March 26, 2008
A £3 MILLION plan to refurbish a special needs school was approved by councillors, despite objections from residents.
St Catherine’s School, in Grove Road, Ventnor, which specialises in students with speech and language difficulties, said it was now putting together a financial package for the scheme and hoped to start work within three years.
The IW Council’s planning committee, which gave unanimous approval, was told the three blocks, linked by glass walkways, would provide 1,300 sq metres of floorspace to replace outdated accommodation for boarders.
The meeting was told it would provide 38 bed spaces, therapy and communal rooms, plus offices.
Ventnor Town Council raised no objection but nearby residents said they would lose their views and were concerned about increased noise and traffic, and the building not being sympathetic to the Victorian architecture of the area.
But the school’s principal, Grenville Shipley, said St Catherine’s, which was built in 1870, had a national and international reputation for academic success and promoting students’ independence. Improved facilities could not be created by re-modelling existing buildings.
The school currently had a roll of 70 students, mostly from the mainland, and there were no plans to increase the capacity beyond the current 100.
Cllr Brian Mosdell suggested incorporating solar panels and harnessing rainwater. Officers said they would suggest these eco-ideas.

GO-AHEAD FOR £3M SCHOOL FACELIFT

Weather

Subscribe