‘Why has ESC never asked about price of playing fields?’
THE association in charge of playing fields at Les Varendes has expressed surprise that Education has never attempted to establish how much it would cost to buy them.
ESC has consistently dismissed the option of using the Grammar School in its two-school plan, partly because of uncertainty over room to expand as well as the cost of renovation and the disruption it would cause.
The site is again in the spotlight as supporters rally around plans to delay the extension of Les Beaucamps and St Sampson’s to 1,400 capacity colleges – both will have significantly less outdoor space than UK standards.
Les Varendes has also featured in potential three-school alternatives.
The Intermediate & Grammar Schools Association, which is responsible for the playing fields, has outlined what dealings it has had with the States about the land.
In March 2018, States Property Services wrote a general letter to all neighbouring landowners, enquiring whether they would be prepared to consider selling land if it was required for alternative purposes relating to the new schools.
The Association was contacted directly by States Property Services in May 2018.
It responded stating that if suitable terms could be agreed, and if the States could assist the Association in its efforts to purchase replacement playing field facilities (necessary in order to satisfy the terms of the trust which owns the fields), then the association would be minded to recommend to the trustees that a sale be considered by them as the landowners.
‘No further response was received from ESC regarding a potential sale of the land for alternative purposes.
‘No deal was offered to buy the land and no enquiry was made regarding an asking price to sell the land. Accordingly, no deal was ever put firstly by CfESC for the association to consider, and consequently the association had no deal to recommend to the trustees,’ the association said.
‘We find it surprising that at no time did ESC attempt to establish what the land would cost, as that would surely form part of their overall evaluation of the site.’
At least four meetings have been held between IGSA and Education deputies and/or officers over the past two years.
‘Where ambiguity has crept in is that all of the conversations at the physical meetings (some considerable time after the May 2018 exchange of letters) were specifically about whether the playing field would still be available to buy if CfESC chose Les Varendes as a site for one of the schools going forward, as it would obviously still require a playing field.
‘IGSA confirmed several times that it would be happy to discuss a sale of the playing field with CfESC when the school at Les Varendes ceases to be a Grammar School (because the lease automatically ends in summer 2023 when there is no Grammar School in existence after the last selected cohort leaves the school).’
That position was reiterated at a meeting on 14 October.
At that meeting the IGSA said it could even sell the playing field while the Grammar School still exists, subject to honouring the terms of the remaining lease so that the school is never without a playing field during its existence.
Education asked IGSA not to sell the land until Education was able to confirm that the field would not be required as an extra playing field for use by the new school at Les Beaucamps.
‘That still remains the position today. CfESC effectively has first refusal to acquire the playing field at this time, and IGSA has deferred approaches from several interested parties as a result.’
