The general consensus from the people of Whitton, Teddington, Fulwell and surrounding areas is that they cannot believe that Richmond Council have just announced officially that Turing House’s permanent house is indeed the Whitton site. Firstly, considering that Richmond Borough Education have been recently named and shamed as one of the worst boroughs in London for providing for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. They shouldn't be involved in this at all. Richmond Council had denied blame for months about steering the EFA towards the Whitton site, even though 1) One of their Tory 2014 election pledges was to help find Turing House a new home 2) Just published on the Turing House website, Karen Lynch, Chief Exec, RET, said: “We’re also very grateful for the hard work of Richmond & Hounslow LA in helping EFA secure (Whitton) site. Richmond Council have been secretly negotiating with the EFA and Hounslow Council regarding the land on Hospital Bridge Road with no consideration for the local residents whatsoever or the impact on the area. There's been zero consultation or even the hint of mention to any local residents, especially not those who will be most impacted. Even those that back DIRECTLY ONTO the proposed site. To say that they (Richmond Council) will hold a public consultation at planning stage is an insult and a lame gesture. The EFA would not consider purchasing the land from Hounslow Council unless planning permission was predetermined; many agree that the deal is done already and planning permission would be just a formality. Regarding the bias Admissions Policy, Richmond Council have on several occasions said that they disagree with the admissions criteria but are powerless to make any changes themselves. They may consult, but as others have said, this is meaningless. Once planning permission is given Turing House may well flick the finger at Richmond Council regarding the admissions policy. Paul Hodgins is stuck now, no site available in the area of 'need' and future problems for Twickenham Academy which will receive less funding as fewer students will attend this school than would have done. “The trouble with the Richmond Council is that they see everything in terms of £££. If we build on David Lloyd wasteland the council can't sell it, If we build on Whitton Horse Field the Government foots the bill for the new site. So they see the Whitton site as a 'win' as it frees up a multi-million pound site for them to sell to a housing developer.” ………………. And before long more schools are needed. Whitton and Heathfield residents will be losing precious Metropolitan Open Land with detrimental consequences for the environment and local community. The only powers that Richmond Council have is at planning level but it is clear that they support the location of the school so the planning application will no doubt be successful. To reiterate on the facts 1) The land is 16 acres of Metropolitan Open Land, afforded the same protection as Green Belt. 2) The road infrastructure is inadequate as it is with constant gridlock at rush hour. The roads are narrow surrounding the site. The traffic in the proposed area of Whitton is already over congested. The additional traffic the school would generate would make it intolerable. Considering the distance from Teddington and the poor public transport links between the two areas, the number of additional vehicles coming in to the area to deliver students would be unfair to Whitton residents. 3) There are SIX schools within the immediate vicinity of the Whitton site with 2,600 children, not to mention The Heathlands School, not 0.9 mile over in Hounslow Borough with 1,800 pupils, and they want to add another 1,100, utter madness. 4) The only viable entrance would cut across Heathfield Recreation Ground (a large park used daily). On one side of the site is a graveyard, another a railway, another a blind humpback bridge. 5) Twickenham Academy, just 1000 feet down the road from the proposed site is undersubscribed by over 200 pupils, would be destabilized just when they are trying hard to improve. 6) A haven for wildlife for over 30 years and grazing ground for horses; some of which will have to be destroyed as nowhere else to go. There are other sites that could be used to build this school:- 1) Strawberry Hill Golf Club, 30 Acres, 1,200 feet (yes, TWELVE HUNDRED FEET) from Fulwell Golf Course, under-used and subsidised by Richmond Council. Not needed by any means. 2) Fulwell Golf Club (part of), 244 acres, 210 acres is actual golf course, owned by Richmond Council 3) Large section of land behind David Lloyd, Hampton which Richmond Council own, 9 acres. The EFA apparently followed Richmond Council’s recommendations which omitted the above sites. I've been told the main block on helping Turing House find a local site is Councillor Geoffrey Samuel; what I would like to know is why Councillor Samuel would do this, what ulterior motive has he got ? Local Councillors for Whitton and Heathfield, Grant Healy & Gareth Elliott, have ignored ALL my questions and concerns on Twitter about the Whitton site; no feedback from them whatsoever. Tania Mathias is a lost cause, Whitton is the wrong end of Twickenham to be important to her. The whole sorry saga is a disgrace and Richmond Council have handled it diabolically, they should hang their heads in shame. Yet again Richmond Council has listened to NO ONE and done as they have pleased, letting everyone down in the process, ignoring cries from nearly 2,000 residents. The construction should not be allowed to go ahead until a more suitable site is located that does not MASSIVELY impact on another town’s local area. Moronic comments from Turing House are really not helping :- "We are looking forward to building relationships with the community in Whitton" "ensure that the impact on the local community .........will be minimised" I assume that these comments are some sort of sick joke, Turing House in Whitton will destroy our local area on many levels and they want us to welcome them with open arms !!!!