Local residents are furious that the Education Funding Agency have purchased the former Co-op sports ground in Balmoral Avenue with £13.4 million of tax payers money for the sole purpose of the building of a new senior school by the E21c trust. The senior school which is to be called the Beckenham Academy, will facilitate around 1450 pupils, including a sixth form in an extended learning day from 7.30am until 5.30pm It is strongly believed the Education Funding Agency have purchased this site with the strong belief or even confirmation, that they will be give planning permission for this new build school.

The trust has already written to other schools and business's to drum up support before the public consultation period in March or April 2016. This current consultation was not been sent to local residents and the trust has made no contact with the 'No Academy in Balmoral Avenue' group. Planning application will be submitted soon after.

The council very selectively leafleted a few houses to say they were looking to change the “local plan” and asked for comments on it – deep inside this document was a mention of the Co op ground as a “2nd choice potential” site for a secondary school including sixth year. Although the consultation process ended at the end of October the council are still looking at the responses and they will not be ready until sometime early 2016 to update anyone. So why has the trust purchased the site before the local plan has been concluded – if all things are fair and above board then who knows the council may decide the Co op site is unsuitable!! – Where will that leave the trust?

The former Co op land is currently classed as Urban Open Space and is designated for “sporting purposes only” - but if the draft local plan is adopted then they will change this classification to allow the school and this will pave the way for the school. The catchment for the school is to be centred on Kent House so to pull in pupils from Penge and West Lewisham; this they say is for 1 year only.

As local residents, we object to this academy being built in the proposed site and wish the site to be deemed unsuitable for the following reasons:

1) Traffic around Upper Elmers End Road, Elmers End Green, Croydon Road and Eden Park Avenue is already heavily congested during the school/work rush hours. The situation will be worsened with the introduction of a new school in the proposed area.

2) Local residents will be affected by additional 'pupil drop offs' particularly in Balmoral Avenue and possibly other surrounding roads where a second entrance may be proposed. Residents may find themselves unable to leave their driveways due to traffic, or worse still, being blocked in by parents dropping off.

3) Public transport is also going to fill the burden of additional pupils travelling to the proposed school. Local residents travelling to work may be unable to get on buses due to full capacity.

4) The clearing of the proposed site may disturb wildlife, some of which may be protected and will also see the removal of cherished flora and fauna. This area has been used by local dog walkers and will be greatly missed if built on. 

5) The proposed school is not intended for local catchment. The area is already densely populated with secondary and primary schools including Langley Girls School, Langley Boys School, Harris Academy Beckenham, Edenham High School, Unicorn Primary School, Marian Vian Primary School, Orchard Way Primary School. These schools all contribute to local traffic congestion as well as the David Lloyd Leisure Centre. Another school would add to this burden. 

6) Residents are concerned by possible tension that could arise between pupils of existing local schools and the 'out of area' pupils travelling to the proposed new school.

7) Pupils from the proposed school may decide to hang around Stanhope Park and cause social disturbance. The park is used by local dog walkers, families with young children and backs on to residential properties, which may cause privacy issues.