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WHEELER LANE SCHOOLS REDEVELOPMENT BIRMINGHAM COUNCIL PUBLIC MEETING AT WHEELERS LANE TECHNOLOGY COLLEGE WEDNESDAY 13TH APRIL 2005 This is a summary of the main points arising from the public meeting arranged by Birmingham Council to explain what is proposed for the redevelopment of the Wheelers Lane Schools. This is not a verbatim report of what happened, nor a set of minutes; rather it attempts to summarise the key points raised. Timing and Duration of the Works Site Access During Demolition and Construction Dust, Smoke, Mud and Noise During Demolition and Construction Dealing With Problems And Complaints Campus Access When the Schools are in Use The current nursery school, primary school and technology college will be demolished, and the annexe will be closed. A new 2-storey combined nursery and primary school incorporating pupils at the annexe will be built on the site of the demolished technology college. A new 3-storey technology college will be built in the playground area between the existing schools. Its windows face north-south so it does not overlook adjacent property A new 8m high sports hall (without windows), and a hard play area will be built on the site of the demolished primary school. The design contains the same number of car parking spaces as currently exist. Birmingham Council using a Public Private Partnership (PPP) mechanism called a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) is redeveloping the schools. The Wheelers lane Schools are two in a package of 12 schools. At the moment the contract has not been signed, but the preferred bidder is Balfour Beatty’s education PFI concession company Transform Schools, has been appointed for the £56 million Birmingham Schools PFI concession. Transform will demolish the existing schools and design and build the new schools. Architects Watkins Grey International is doing design of the schools. Haden Building Management, another Balfour Beatty subsidiary, will do maintaining and servicing of the buildings over a 30-year period. Peter Farrell is Birmingham Council’s Learning and Culture Directorate Head of Asset Management Lesley Jamison is Birmingham Council’s Learning and Culture Directorate PFI project manager Martin Evans is the architect from Watkins Grey International Matt Talbot is the design and project manager from Balfour Beatty The Nursery classrooms will be demolished and pupils temporarily deployed into existing Annexe. The Technology College will be constructed on the site of the playground area between the existing schools. When it is complete pupils from the college will occupy their new school. When the existing Technology College is vacated, it will be demolished. The new Primary Schools will be built on the site of the demolished technology college. When it is complete pupils from the primary, and nursery schools, including the annexe will occupy their new school. When the existing Primary School is vacated it will be demolished, A new Sports Hall and hard play areas will be built on the site of the demolished primary school. Timing and Duration of the Works The Council and contractors hope to start work in the summer school holiday period, that is August(ish) 2005. Ideally the Technology College will open at the start of the 2006 school year, that is September 2006. Realistically it seems possible that the school may open in autumn half term or possibly January 2007. Ideally the primary school will open at the start of the 2007 school year, that is September 2007. Realistically this may open in the autumn half-term or January 2008. The opening date for the Sports Hall is not clear. Site Access During Demolition and Construction Albert Road Will not be used during construction Bagnell Road Will be used during demolition of the primary school, and building of the Sport Hall and hard play areas. Middleton Road Will be used during demolition of the nursery and construction of the Technology College Wheelers Lane will be used during demolition of the Technology College and construction of the Primary School Large/articulated lorries will only use the Wheelers Lane entrance. The need for parking restrictions to keep a clear path for vehicles in Middleton Road or elsewhere was not ruled out Dust, Smoke, Mud and Noise During Demolition and Construction Demolition dust will be suppressed by hosing down. Mud will be swept from roads It was said that site workers might park elsewhere and be ferried to site by minibus, but his was not a commitment, so mass parking by site workers is a possibility. Dealing With Problems And Complaints Anyone who wishes to raise issues now about the design, construction, or access may raise them with the heads of the schools, or Lesley Jamison of Birmingham Council. It is not clear what channels may be set up to handle problems and complaints when work is underway. Similarly it is not clear how and when residents will be told about a problem/complaint mechanism if it is set up. Campus Access When the Schools are in Use Albert Road will not be an entrance to the campus, and a fence or wall will close off the campus from Albert Road Bagnell Road will be the entrance for a staff car park. Will be the pupil entrance to the Technology College Will be a secondary entrance for pupils at the Primary School. Middleton Road will be the an entrance for pupils at the Technology College Will be the entrance for catering/food delivery vehicles for the schools meals kitchens. Wheelers Lane will be the main entrance to the Primary School Will be the main entrance for visitors to the campus Will be an entrance to the Technology College The planning application for the project has not been submitted yet. It is likely to be submitted in the next few weeks (April-May 2005). When it is submitted plans will be available for inspection at the Kings Heath Neighbourhood Office, Kings Heath Library, and at the Planning Service in Alpha Tower. The building contractors, Balfour Beatty, will be boring some sampling holes in the next few weeks (May – July 2005) to establish the condition of the ground. This should not be mistaken for driving piles for foundations. |