Pupils need a new school, not a palace
I CAME across the following statement from a Lance Taylor, chief executive of Rider Levett Bucknell, a worldwide property and construction consultancy group commenting on the cost of schools in the UK, and I quote:
'The government has created palaces way beyond the needs of the children – the schools of tomorrow are going to have to be more like trading platforms, where functionality is the key and aesthetics are taken right back.'
This comment was made in 2010 and school building costs in the UK were running at £2,000 per metre on average but with a wide variance from £1,400 upwards and an average classroom for 30 pupils at £110,000.
He believed it was possible to cut this by 30% (and so does the government).
Not many people I have met have looked at the information from the States and were shocked when I told them the cost for La Mare included over £13m. for external works and £4.7m. for fees.
I repeat, £4.7m. fees.
Hope you deputies give this project the big thumbs-down.
I also wonder how much they have already spent in fees for this school, and for the harbour project for that matter – maybe one of the new cranes could be sent back to pay for them as it has stood idle for months and they obviously manage without it.
G. M. OLDROYD,
Le Varclin,
St Martin's.
