Stop the John Lyon School Expansion

The John Lyon school signed a section 106 agreement in 1995. It did so in order to obtain the pecuniary advantage of a significant increase in the school build viz the provision of a Sports Hall, Swimming Pool, Library and Ancillary Areas (WEST/695/94/FUL).

In order to mitigate the impact of this huge development on the local community, the John Lyon agreed to limit the future build envelope and school numbers (to 525). The restriction with regard to school numbers was set in order to ensure that traffic generation was restricted to reasonable levels.

In October 2003 however, the then headmaster, wrote requesting an increase in numbers from 525 to 600. He reassured us that:

a) " We have no plans or needs to build beyond the defined envelope"

b) "The major survey conducted at the start of this year has enabled us to provide an accurate baseline and will provide the foundation for continual monitoring. We would happily accept that if traffic is not reduced significantly the requested maximum of 600 should be reduced".

c) "We would consult local residents through a questionnaire each year to monitor their reactions to the strategy and their view of its success or failure".

In the development committee meeting of May 2004, Harrow planners supported the application and re-assured us that:

a) "The (school) bus services are reported to have had some impact with a reduction of in the order of 25 cars per day from the base figure of 200 (12.5%) reduction".

b) "An agreed travel plan should be in place, with baseline data, annual targets and monitoring and reporting arrangements, to be undertaken at the schools' expense".

c) "Unlike other school travel plan, this proposal has a clear sanction in that if reductions are not achieved, the numbers would revert back to those previously approved".

Needless to say the traffic and parking issues generated by the additional pupils since then have become intolerable. Because of the school's neglect of current planning obligations we sought a meeting with School officials in June 2012. We advised that the traffic plan was not workable. In response the Headmistress and Bursar showed little desire to either enforce or monitor the plan. The meeting had no effect and follow-up correspondence during 2012 and 2013 went unanswered.

In it's current submission to allow the school roll to expand to 700 the school cites it's own data from 2013 and 2014. Both figures significantly breach the agreed baseline figure of 175 car journeys. In 2013 there were a total of 270 pupil car journeys, over a 50% increase above the agreed target. Furthermore, when asked what their preferred mode of transport was, more than 300 pupils said "car".

It is therefore very unlikely that any travel plan will result in a decrease in the traffic. Increasing the school roll will most likely result in a further marked increase in traffic and parking issues as 50% of the additional pupils are likely to be arriving by car.