Monthly Archives: May 2015

by loukit | May 18, 2015 · 14:38

Clubs grounds: Nishkam Free School exhibits this week

Wednesday 20.5.2015 3.00pm to 8.00pm

and Saturday 23.5.2015 10.30am to 2.00pm

Osterley Park Hotel, Corner of Wood Lane and Great West Road, TW7 5NA

Flyer for Nishkam proposals exhibition 20 and 23 May 2015 at the Osterley Park Hotel

More than three years since last meeting residents, the owners of Nishkam free school are exhibiting plans for the Conquest and White Lodge Clubs site.

The flyer says:

“After an extensive site search, Nishkam School, supported by the Education Funding Agency, is proposing a new ‘all through’ school (pupils aged 4 to 19) on vacant land off Syon Lane, previously known as Conquest Club.

A planning application will shortly be made to the Council and we are seeking the views of the local community on the proposal.”

Hurried letters are no substitute for consultation

After a two year wait but in the space of just 12 hours, on 5 and 6 May 2015 some residents who would be affected by a development on the Conquest Club site received two letters. One was from Mary McCleod, Conservative parliamentary candidate, and the other was from Dr B S Mahon, Chairman, of the Nishkam Free School School Trust. Both letters sought in different ways to respond to increasingly vocal concerns about the mooted development (I cannot even say “proposed” since it has not yet been properly proposed).

Mary McCleod’s says that she asked the free school for details about the proposed development on the Conquest site. The school told her that “The Conquest Club site was included as a possible site for a school in the original free school application submitted [to the Education Funding Agency] by the Nishkam School Trust.”

The school does not say on what basis this site of Metropolitan Open Space was included. Mary McCleod sheds no light on the issue either eventhough she wrote in September 2013, “I’ve been actively supporting them throughout the process.” See http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/mary-macleod/free-schools-education_b_3879081.html . Continue reading →

Conquest and White Lodge Clubs: McLeod lets the cat out of the bag

Bigger than you thought, little people, prepare yourselves.

On Tuesday 28.4.2015, a couple of hours after residents met at the gates of the White Lodge Club, Syon Lane for a photo to mark their seeing off of the Education Funding Agency’s big grey fence, Mary McLeod’s bag carrier, former councillor Barbara Reid was busy arranging a meeting of not nearly enough concerned locals for last night at the Wycombe House Club, Jersey Road and elsewhere..

At long last, McLeod felt able to reveal a proposal for the clubs site, below.