Missing Hospital on East Dulwich Grove.

[Heft]

I'm a fan of the hospital and the help it has given me over the years, but I thought it was interesting that people would like the site to be used for something else because Kings is so near.

One of my main concerns about the massive baby boom in the area is that in 5-10 years we'll be in trouble because there are practically no secondary schools in the immediate area - for girls at least. There's a shiny new boys academy on the Rye but that's no good to my daughter who will have to travel quite some distance when she gets to secondary age (depending on which school she manages to get into).

I think the old hospital site would make a great school. Don't know if any of you are aware of people in other areas who have been campaigning for/starting their own schools? Aided by this group http://www.newschoolsnetwork.org/ . I also saw a group of parents in North London recently who were trying to force a PCT to sell an empty hospital so they could start their own school. I know very little about the process, but it was just a thought.

[plimsoul]

just a thought is the start to many good things.

[m7post]

Some positive thought would indeed be most welcome, no doubt, as this has been a very sorry affair to date.

It would be interesting to have a definitive statement from the PCT - as per the abject failings to date - and further what it is they are planning for all or part of the demolished site - and furthermore for the site and buildings as a whole. It's a great shame they demolished the original buildings before they could assure a replacement - that building could have been used for other community uses - a school as suggested above for instance - but that opportunity has needlessly been lost.

We need local politicians to get a grip on this situation and the PCT as a whole for that matter - to assure we do not end up with nothing of community worth.

[ruffers]

What would you like to see? Clearly you'd rather they hadn't knocked the buildings down as you mention it frequently but that's done.... so what now?

[EDmummy]

I am sure you are right, Heft, regarding secondary girls schools but there are a number of coeducational schools and the girls school over the other side of Peckham Rye (it may not be ideal for your child but schools can change at an incredibly fast rate). Are we in fact missing a primary school that could fit on this site?

[m7post]

Hi Ruffer - I started this thread - not to promote what I think should happen - but to raise the local publics awareness of the issue - how people have been poorly served - and that if they care - to start a full debate on the future of the site and it's management - it is in theory public land / a public asset - held in trust by the PCT.

As you ask though - I personally think that we should have a significant medical facility there Though some have pointed out that we have Kings just over the Hill - we have a huge and growing population in this part of London - and do / will need additional and complementary services to the main hub at kings.

Best

Martin

[Heft]

No, actually I'm not keen on single sex and would always push for co-ed. I don't know if primary or secondary is more needed and would be happy to see either kind of school go in this space.

I may do a freedom of information request to Southwark Council to see how many miles children have to travel to both primary and secondary schools in the area. That way we might know which is more necessary.

My daughter isn't even at school yet, which may explain why I'm not aware of all the secondary schools around me. I'm just thinking ahead...

[Mick Mac]

Heft Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I'm a fan of the hospital and the help it has

> given me over the years, but I thought it was

> interesting that people would like the site to be

> used for something else because Kings is so near.

>

> One of my main concerns about the massive baby

> boom in the area is that in 5-10 years we'll be in

> trouble because there are practically no secondary

> schools in the immediate area - for girls at

> least. There's a shiny new boys academy on the

> Rye but that's no good to my daughter who will

> have to travel quite some distance when she gets

> to secondary age (depending on which school she

> manages to get into).

>

> I think the old hospital site would make a great

> school. Don't know if any of you are aware of

> people in other areas who have been campaigning

> for/starting their own schools? Aided by this

> group http://www.newschoolsnetwork.org/ . I also

> saw a group of parents in North London recently

> who were trying to force a PCT to sell an empty

> hospital so they could start their own school. I

> know very little about the process, but it was

> just a thought.

Could not agree more. Perhaps many of our councillors could take this up?