A CONTROVERSIAL bell tower which won the backing of city planning chiefs will be an ‘exciting, innovative development which will benefit all in Worcester’, according to the man who championed the scheme.
Neil Morris, headteacher of Christopher Whitehead Language College in St John’s, spoke to the Observer to tackle the ‘selective, inaccurate debate’ sparked by planning permission being granted for the school’s new performing arts centre and multi-functional bell tower project.
Despite Worcester City Council planning committee giving the thumbs up by seven votes to two, the scheme attracted criticism from local residents and outspoken councillor Alan Amos, who rubbished the scheme and labelled the building a ‘dreadful eyesore’.
The purpose-built educational venue will provide a performing arts and multi-functional base for teaching and will combine music, drama, dance and vocational studies.
Mr Morris said the venue would offer opportunities for primary schools, youth groups, and local businesses and claimed it was essential for the families of his 1,300 students.
“This is the fourth attempt the school has made to get proper performing arts facilities and we still have a long way to go to see this come to fruition,” he said.
“Requirements for costings, funding and the actual building need to happen. Planning permission is clearly a beneficial decision and a crucial move forward.
“There has been much discussion over educational funding both nationally and locally. Any funding for new buildings given to any school has to be spent only on the buildings.
“In this case, we are seeking government and private funding for the performing arts section of the project.
“The bell tower, the aspect of much discussion, is totally privately funded and will be 100 metres away from the nearest residents and will have computer generated bells that will not be audible unless we decide otherwise.
“This will only occur 12 times a year for no longer than an hour and never after 6pm. Now we have to get the funds for the performing arts project and get our music lessons out of an expensive, £20,000 per year, rented portable building.”
The respected headteacher said it was ‘lovely’ to offer some hope to the school during a time of austerity where the establishment has seen its Government funding slashed from £110,000 in 2015 to £35,000 this year and zero next year.
“I give this as a small example of the restricted nature of school funding, which means the overall school budget is the worst it has been for 15 years and any money that can be attracted to school, in any area, is gratefully received and will be carefully, productively used,” added Mr Morris.
Anyone who wishes to view the plans can visit www.christopher whitehead.co.uk
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