HUNDREDS OF LOCAL PEOPLE OFFER THEIR SUPPORT TO
THE HOWARD

Thank you so much for your feedback on our plans for The Howard. We are delighted to have heard from almost 600 local people, 80% of whom support the new school and 52% of whom recognise the need for the enabling homes.

Registering your views will make a big difference on the prospects of securing planning permission for the new home for The Howard. You can do so here.

Please also encourage your friends, family and neighbours to also register their support. Although the statutory timeframe for submitting comments ran until the 16th January 2015, Guildford Borough Council will continue to accept comments on the application until it is presented to the planning committee.

We would like to clarify a number of points about the application and specifically regarding the requirement for the enabling homes as there has been some misinformation reported locally.

The Howard is an Academy. It is not funded by the Local Authority but from central government. However, there is extremely limited money currently available from central government for new schools or even refurbishment of schools.

In the last few days it has been reported that the Local Government Association fears the demand for school places could soon reach a tipping point with no more space or money to extend schools.

As many of you who are parents at The Howard know, the current school facilities DO present significant challenges.

Of course all potential sources of funding have been explored. The only way we can build the facilities the young people in our community deserve is with the enabling homes.

We are unfortunately facing a very negative campaign. But we know that hundreds of you are not represented by the views being expressed by Effingham Parish Council and Effingham Residents Association. Please have your voice heard and take a moment today to comment on our application on the Council’swebsite.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUING SUPPORT FOR THIS PROJECT. WE HOPE THAT 2015 WILL BRING US A STEP CLOSER TO BUILDING A NEW HOME FOR THE HOWARD.