Here's Caroline Voaden asking a question on our behalf. Both her question and Lisa Nandy's response go to the heart of the issue:https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dfpc91IJNVy/?cplk=MTIxOTRmdm45cXAwdw==
Thank you so much to everyone who joined us at KEVICC last night for the open meeting. It felt like there was a lot of passion and anger in the room but also a clear willingness from us all to find a win-win solution. We truly think Education South West will have come away with lots of food for thought - and that's down to everyone who came along, so thank you. If you attended and have other reflections, then please do share them in the discussion forum.
Quick summary for those who couldn't make it:
* ESW accepted they had made mistakes, particularly around the signs and fencing, and not engaging and communicating with the community earlier, and had not handled the situation well.
* ESW has not disposed of land before. They have not done this before so it seems like there's alot of reliance on advisors (potentially explaining the above bullet point).
* ESW can’t openly commit to preference a community bid but seemed to insinuate if it was close enough to another bid they would accept it. However several times referred to fact community bid only raised recently so they need time to consider option. Reaffirmed commitment to not marketing before Jan and giving a window until end of March for all bids.
* Their commitment to work with community and accept a community bid if possible seemed on the face of it genuine. Towards the end, I think they could see the potential opportunity of selling to the community, not least from a PR perspective but also for the students.
* Also showed willingness to rethink boundaries and potentially access to more flat land and river rather than allowing building across whole area alongside road in response to interventions by Caroline Voaden MP.
* Interesting idea explored at the end of meeting in response to question/brainwave around community helping with fundraising for the 30% of amount needed for new All Weather Pitch alongside FA funding as separate initiative initially from sale of land. This could help add value in terms of community bid. ESW receptive to at least the first part of this but a little skeptical.
* Looked visibly quite moved by speech from a parent around childrens use of the field, felt like at least Matthew Shanks CEO of ESW maybe started to get the strength of feeling and understand it better.
* Matthew Shanks from ESW said that all proceeds would go to the school only but recognised it was just his word - wouldn't object to going back to the Department of Education to put it in writing as part of the conditions but warned it would take time.
* Following the meeting Matthew Shanks spoke to members of the group and seemed keen to continue engaging with us.
The summary would be cautious optimism.
FOLF will continue to update website as soon as possible with all updates from meetings and facilitate with maps any discussion around boundaries but ESW said they would also consider another open meeting to widen opportunities to participate further and to continue communication.