NOVEMBER of last year I noted in the latest masterplan for the Chesterton development that the proposed primary school’s location, much to my concern, had been moved yet again even closer to the most vulnerable part of the HP gas pipeline.
My safety concerns were based on my local knowledge of the proposed site and my previous gas pipeline control experience. Since 2013 I have been concerned mainly with the ugly side within the development: gas, sewers and localised flooding.
Anyhow, back to November 2016; the new school’s closer location did give me a great deal of concern, even more so as this followed on the heels of the nearby Churchdown School evacuation due to a gas leak in a nearby field, which made national news.
So I took my concerns to both Cotswold District Council (CDC) Planning and Bathurst Development in which I expressed with my previous experience, why at that point the pipeline I thought is at its most vulnerable – the school’s location being close to it – and what recently happened to the nearby Churchdown School.
I also emailed my local MP Geoffrey Clifton Brown about this, who referred it to CDC with no acknowledgement. After all this I emailed the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
In all honesty I was hoping that my concerns would be looked into as serious, even more so when it came to children being involved.
However, all proved futile as come time of the planning application disclosure I was more than saddened to see the school in the same closer location.
The HSE’s report to move the school, amongst other recommendations, only came out after CDC asked for their advice as they are required to do so in any planning application procedure. So, indirectly and eventually: thank you, HSE.
Still, such a great pity it couldn’t be taken on as a serious concern in the first place.
TERRY NICHOLSON
Cirencester
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