West Kirby Grammar School has submitted plans for a new sixth form block and community sports hall.
In documents submitted to Wirral Council, it says the scheme will address the lack of “sporting spaces, dining areas, changing rooms, study spaces, and social spaces, particularly for Sixth Form students”.
It is proposing constructing a new four court sports hall by taking out two tennis courts on the Meols Drive side of the site, and converting an existing gym into a dedicated sixth form centre. It is planned that the sports hall will be made available for community use of an evening.
Easedale House will no longer be used for teaching and learning, but would instead become an administrative building.
The school describes the scheme as a “thoughtful redevelopment project” that is “crucial for making the school vital, viable, and sustainable for the future”.
A total of five options to redevelop the school were considered, including two that proposed a sports hall built on their playing fields on Graham Road. However, these were discounted due to likely concerns from Sport England over the loss of open space, which also killed a previous proposal for a sports facility on Anglesey Road playing fields.
The new block proposed for West Kirby Grammar School
In the planning application, West Kirby Grammar School head Simeon Clarke writes: “This facility will not only offer year-round sports activities but also significantly enrich our curriculum, promoting physical well-being and active participation among students.
“Additionally, the conversion of what would become a Gymnasium that is surplus to requirements into a dedicated Sixth Form Centre represents a targeted solution to address social and dining challenges faced by our Sixth Form students. By providing a purpose-built space tailored to their needs, WKGS aims to cultivate an environment that nurtures academic achievement and personal growth.”
The school says the plans have been submitted after it “carefully assessed its current capacity and future requirements” and it remains “dedicated to engaging stakeholders”, and that “through collaborative efforts, we aim to create a facility that embodies excellence”.
However, West Kirby Today has learned there is frustration from some local residents that they were not told about the the scheme until they received a planning letter from Wirral Council last weekend, amid concerns over what it could mean in relation to additional traffic.
Graham Road on a school day
Local councillor Max Booth has been working with residents and Wirral Council’s highways department for some time to come up with solutions to mitigate existing issues caused by coaches and cars driven by parents, staff and students all competing for space on Graham Road within a short period of time.
The school currently has 53 parking spaces for more than 100 staff, and West Kirby Today has been told of incidents including damage to wing mirrors and residents facing a battle to leave their homes at the start and end of the school day – with some resorting to parking on the pavement outside their drives to make sure they are not blocked in.
An informal one-way system is in place to try and minimise the issues, but can be disrupted by vehicles that don’t know about it, such as delivery drivers.
One idea being progressed is the introduction of a traffic regulation order which would mean parking restrictions at peak times.
In relation to the planning application, a highways statement submitted with the the documentation says Graham Road will not be impacted as no access will be available to the sports hall from that side of the site, and it will have a dedicated car park with 10 dedicated spaces and “an extra informal overspill parking area with around 20 spaces”.
For its part, the school told West Kirby Today it has consulted with “immediate neighbours off Meols Drive, ward councillors and local amenity groups” and “is committed to engaging further and would be very happy to meet and discuss the scheme with all interested parties”.
It has also submitted a ‘travel plan framework’ as part of the application, which it says will be progressed after the redevelopment is completed, to try and reduce the number of journeys to and from school by car. It says this offers “for the first time, the opportunity to address local highway pressures experienced by the wider neighbourhood with a view to providing long-term betterment for the benefit of the local community”.
The proposals include reviewing and increasing cycle storage if needed, the introduction of a formal car share arrangement for staff, consideration given to new safe crossing points, and encouraging staff and pupils to walk or cycle to and from school once a week. However it concedes “it will take time for the effects of the possible initiatives to occur”.
Another view of the proposed scheme
Cllr Booth told West Kirby Today: “Over the past 15 months, I have been working closely with WKGS, WBC, and residents of Graham Road on implementing a long-term traffic management plan to address ongoing congestion issues. This foundation has enabled me to quickly engage with the recent planning application. As a ward councillor, my goal, with colleagues, is to address as many concerns as possible.
“I will be reaching out to residents, WBC planning, and the school to develop the best possible way forward. The priority is to ensure broad participation in this consultation, whether from Meols Drive or Graham Road (trying to iron out any concerns).
“Given the school’s proximity and my positive relationship with its senior leadership team, I hope we can collaboratively address traffic congestion and enhance resident involvement in this process.”
The application can be viewed at https://online.wirral.gov.uk/planning/index.html?fa=getApplication&id=229610.
