A planning application has been submitted for the expansion of St Philomena’s school (C2015/71900) to provide an additional one- form entry of 30 pupils totalling 200 extra pupils over seven years. As there are currently 1303 pupils this will take the overall total to 1503 pupils.

In 2015/16, the first year after expansion, the number of year 7 (first year) pupils will rise from 204 to 234 pupils. The school has undertaken that all the expansion will come from Sutton Borough children. The expansion will consist of eight new classrooms in a two storey building.

At present 60% of pupils come from outside the Sutton boundaries. The 2012 School Travel Plan shows that 27% of pupils were driven or drove to school, or shared cars or “parked and strode”.  A total of 41% caught the bus, 18% used rail and 15% walked or cycled. The 2013/14 school travel survey showed a slight increase in bus users at 44%.

However, no new car parking or vehicular access arrangements form part of the application. But a parking study has been conducted by the school in the Poets Estate area  – bounded by Shorts Rd/Alma Rd, Colston Avenue and stretching along Westmead Rd from Westmead Corner to Browning Avenue and Highfield Rd. This shows an existing capacity of 84% of parking spaces when max capacity is defined as 85%.

Many residents report parents parking across their drives and on double yellow lines, especially in Shorts Rd/Alma Road, and in the area around Westmead Corner. Jill and Alan recently met the Head Teacher to discuss options. They asked that the school stagger opening and closing times, encourage more pupils to use public transport or walk/cycle, older children in particular. They asked for proactive enactment of the School’s travel plan and greater enforcement of parental behaviour at school start and finish times.

To comment on the school plans please visit Sutton Council’s online planning register at: http://gis.sutton.gov.uk/FASTWEB/detail.asp?AltRef=C2015%2F71900 or visit the Planning Dept, 24 Denmark Rd, Carshalton SM5 2JG Tel 020 8770 5070 or email developmentcontrol@sutton.gov.uk  by 17^th July 2015.