Concerned parents say Gosport meeting over troubled teens centre was pointless
PARENTS who attended a meeting last night to discuss proposals to build a centre for troubled teens at their children’s primary school say they felt it achieved nothing.
Dozens of mums, dads and residents showed up at Woodcot Primary in Gosport to raise their objections to the relocation of Quayside Education Centre from St Vincent College.
June Kershaw, Woodcot’s head, has argued the proposed unit would be sealed off from primary pupils.
But parents who were at the meeting told The News representatives from Hampshire County Council who are seeking approval for the planning application – currently under consultation – were unable to guarantee their children’s security.
Karen Headley, 44, whose children Melissa, 10, and Danielle, seven, attend Woodcot, said: ‘My question to them was will the Quayside children be transported to and from the premises – and if one of the children with behavioural issues kicks off, would staff be able to physically stop them from leaving the unit?
‘The answer was no.’
Ms Headley said parents were in talks with an ex town planner to front a deputation at the council.
She said: ‘We are not going to stop now. I don’t think it’s right that Hampshire County Council should be applying to Hampshire County Council to build on land in Hampshire County Council – it just isn’t right.’
Hundreds of signatures have already been collected for a petition to say ‘no’ to the £4m development.
Ali Taylor, 41, who has an eight-year-old girl at the school, said: ‘The meeting did not answer any questions – I felt everything we were saying was being brushed under the carpet.
‘Hampshire cannot guarantee our children’s safety, so we will fight them to the bitter end.’
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Friday 25 May 2012
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