Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you got til its gone ?

[PavedParadise]

Our primary school field is about to be sold for development. This will leave our pupils with a square of concrete to play on. It will overlook a new carpark where the field and trees used to be.

The council say there is nothing we can do. They are going to sell it.

Does anybody have and experience of their school field being sold ? Do you have any advice for us parents ?

We are at a bit of a loss. Many of the kids at our school have no gardens of their own.

nobody ?

BTW this is not my first post I have been here for ages.

I have name changed though.

what is it to be sold for?? to??

what does the head say??

I would try and start a campaign to keep it.. talk to head first - it may be their idea! but if local councils, then it;'s something the whole school can get behind. Make appointment to see local MP, councillor, speak to local newspaper, start a facebook campaign! Email Ed Balls! - isn't he coming on here soon??
There must be loads of other things you can do too - maybe others have some ideas.

I think you need more knowledge though about who is selling the land exactly, who is buying it, why are they buying it, who does the land belong to (the school? the local LEA?, what is being done with the money raised?

Don't give up this land without a fight. You're right - once it's gone, it's gone.

A square of concrete for playtime is dreadful.

Great for kids to see democracy in action too (even if you eventually lose).
You'll teach them all a valuable lesson that you shouldn't just roll over and accept the status quo.
This is the sort of thing that get my heckles up.

Good Luck!!

Was there a consultation with parents before hand?

What are they going to build on the land?

have you contacted these people for advice?

This is terrible. Our primary has a huge field and if it was ever to be sold off there would be a riot.

What about all parents chipping in a fiver each to buy it?

Maybe suggest that parents will pull their kids out of this school if the sale goes ahead?

they seem to be the people to contact re this issue

How much of the money from the sale are the council going to put back into the school

do you mind saying what council it is?

lots of children only have a square of concrete at primary school.

sorry meant to add, not that i advocate selling off playing fields but i really don't think there is much you can do.

well they shouldn't

and looking at that website it would seem there are lots you can do

Thank you so much for all your help and ideas. I will look at the website. The head of the school has been told he must not present a biased viewpoint to the parents and so cannot say he is against the sale.

The goveners and teachers are against the sale as are all the parents. I would prefer not to say which council this is.

While many children do only have a square of concrete to play on (sadly) I do not think it should be that way as mii says. We are quite a large school with a wide variety of pupils many with special needs. Many live in flats or very small houses with no garden.

The field is very precious to them as for many of them it is their main running space. The field is used as an inspirational place for learning in addition to play and sports. The teachers teach out there in the summer.

Thank you again I will be reading the website you suggested.

The parents of the school have decided to fight this even if we have to lie in front of the bulldozers naked

Oh to answer some questions :

There was a recent consultation with the parents with complete plans of the build that is to happen. They had known about it for a couple of years before the told us.

Fab I don't think a fiver each is going to rasie enough but thanks for the suggestion.

None of the money is going back into the school. It wouldn't be so bad if it was. They are not offering us anything.

Molly thank you so much for your lovely inspiring post.

Never had a school field: urban schools with concrete playgrounds. But if we did, I'd be fuming.

a fiver was just a suggestion as I don't know how big your school is. Our school is massive so a fiver per kid would raise a tidy sum.

Good luck.

There is nothing you can do? Bollocks to that.

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