Merton Council is offering two different housing developments as options for the Merton College Sixth Form site, despite impassioned pleas by residents for a church school.

The fate of the site, in Central Road, Morden, was discussed on Saturday, January 18, at a meeting between residents, Merton Council officers and councillors.

Most of the residents packed into the meeting at Farm Road Church, Morden, wanted the greenfield site and buildings to be used for a new secondary education church school.

So far, the community has been offered the choice between two very different housing developments, with the council expressing a preference for sustainable mixed-use development and the creation of a public park.

The option would see the reversal of the existing layout, with a new public park to the north, where the existing buildings are sited, and the building of an eco-friendly development (such as the Bed-Zed scheme in Beddington).

It would be built where there is currently a private playing field on the Central Road site.

The council say this would prevent the selling-off of the field at a later date for more housing.

The alternative being offered is for a "traditional" housing development to be built, where the current buildings are, with half allocated to affordable housing.

The campaign for the new school is being spearheaded by Reverend Johanna Brightwell, vicar of St George's Church, in Morden, and backed by Morden Team Rector Ray Skinner. They argue it would encourage parents to keep their children's education in Merton.

January 29, 2003 11:00