BROMLEY: New secondary school in Green Belt area

TWO controversial plans for a new secondary school in Bromley Common were approved at a special council meeting, despite heated opposition.

The development control committee spent more than three hours discussing plans for the Bishop Justus Secondary School, to be built on Green Belt land and granted permission, in spite of catcalls and boos from about 80 residents in the public gallery.

London mayor Ken Livingstone informed the council he wanted to refuse the plans, which are likely to go to a public enquiry and to the Government.

One of the plans, on the former Blue Circle cement factory site, involves 295 houses as well as the school.

The other, on council-owned land in Magpie Hall Lane, is just for the school.

Councillors also approved a plan to request the Blue Circle site be removed from the Green Belt for the special purposes of building the school, subject to an inspector's decision.

Representatives from all political parties agreed a new school was desperately needed, as in September 2003 there will be a predicted shortfall of 264 places.

Committee chairman Councillor Tony Wilkinson said: "This decision was based on very special circumstances demonstrating the urgent education need to establish a new secondary school."

Bromley Green Belt Advocacy group (BGBA) was formed to oppose the plans and its campaign has been backed by Greater London Assembly (GLA) Green Party leader Darren Johnson.

BGBA spokesman Allison Morey said: "This development will harm the Green Belt land, home to a lot of wildlife. The surveys done by the council are flawed."

Lavender Close resident Dave Finch said: "We're gutted. There were so many objections but it seemed like a foregone conclusion. The meeting felt like a PR exercise."

The GLA's Mr Johnson said: "It is appalling that Bromley residents are faced with the threat of losing this precious land. We must put up a vigorous fight against the constant threat of development."

swarden@london.newsquest.co.uk