New Tory Council leaves Eden School homeless

12.00.00am GMT Tue 7th Nov 2006

Cllr Dakers has challenged the way Hounslow Council left a community association to evict a school with only six weeks notice

Hounslow's new Tory-Community Group administration has left The Eden School, an independent Seventh Day Adventist school of sixty children, without a home after they were evicted from Hounslow Council-owned St George's Community Hall in Brentford on Monday 20th October. Since yesterday (Monday 6th November) the school have been taking classes at the Treaty Centre Library. Cllr Andrew Dakers, Leader of Hounslow Liberal Democrats, has accused the new administration of precipitating the action in a cowardly way without putting in place any contingency plan.

Cllr Andrew Dakers said:

"This council has - by acting against the Community Association running St George - caused it to evict the school. Leaving Eden School as piggy-in-the-middle is appalling. The net result is that these children are being denied their right to education.

"With only six weeks notice given to the school by the Community Association the Council seems to have made no effort to find the school new accommodation until I intervened. This is extremely irresponsible as it is disruptive to the children's education, some of whom have important exams this academic year. The Council is denying the children the security they need to thrive.

"The Council have still provided no real explanation as to why the school can't continue to operate out of the St George's Community Hall on a temporary license. This would provide the breathing space for the Council and school to find a longer term solution.

"Just last weekend, like many other members of the local community, I enjoyed the school's production of Motherland in Hounslow's Paul Robeson Theatre at the end of Black History Month celebrations. Eden School has a satisfactory Ofsted report and has a good reputation in the community it serves and with other councils.

"The school has undoubtedly had major financial management problems. Despite this - and the fact that it is an independent school - it is my view that Eden School should be found a home. The school should be supported in putting together a more sustainable business plan, in the same way as the Council has helped many other voluntary organisations in our community."

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

Today, Tuesday 7 November, the school marched from Hounslow Treaty Centre Library to the Civic Centre in protest at their treatment. A petition was handed over to Council officials.

The students continue to be taught at the Treaty Centre Library whilst alternative premises are sought. Anyone with a suitable building available should contact the headteacher Laura Osei via Cllr Dakers (07788 116159).