Consultation on Enlargement of Hook Infant & Junior Schools

Hampshire County Council are consulting on the expansion of Hook Junior and Infants Schools due in part to a rising birth rate but mainly because of the applications for major housing developments in Hook. Expansion of school provision in Hook will be absolutely necessary if even some of the planned developments go ahead, and how this expansion is achieved will have a significant impact on the village. It will affect many more people than just current parents, so if you are not aware of the consultation that is underway, details are available on the Hampshire website at: http://consultations.hants.gov.uk/consultationdetails.aspx?consultationid=1406.

A drop-in session was held at the school today. All that was available to view was a single outline plan which the officer present said should be made available via their consultation page in due course. They wanted it to be clear that it really was just an outline of a possible means by which to expand the school and that no detailed planning for building use had yet taken place, for example. Also some of the ideas they were floating (such as the possible parking changes moving some staff parking into part of the community centre car park) had not been agreed with other parties (including the schools themselves or the District and Parish Councils). They were just possibilities being proposed for discussion. Click on the drawing below for a higher resolution image. It is a little difficult to make out, but the two areas marked “1.” and outlined in a dotted line are the potential building extensions. The consultation notification letter can be viewed here and the FAQs here. If you wish to make comments on this proposal, you may write to Glenn Parkinson, School Organisation Officer, Children’s Services Department, Hampshire County Council, Elizabeth II Court North, Winchester, Hampshire SO23 8UG or email him at glenn.parkinson@hants.gov.uk.