What every political group in Walsall has to say about the controversial £50m Reedswood school project

Political groups in Walsall have stated their position on a controversial major school development coming to Reedswood Park.

The Department for Education (DfE) is leading on the £50million project which will see the creation of a three-storey school building to host over 1,000 students aged 11-18.

Residents have raised major concerns about the scheme as it requires flattening 13.7 acres of woodland at the park, and the access will be gained from the already-congested Reedswood Lane.

Many ask the question why vacant school sites in the borough haven’t been chosen for repurposing or existing schools expanded.

But it is understood the £50million investment from the Labour government is only available to build a new school, the reason for which has never been confirmed by the department.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service asked the DfE whether it would consider looking at alternative sites if the consultation proved most are against the project, but it refused to comment.

Below are statements on the matter from every political group with candidates standing in the upcoming local elections in Walsall.

Advance UK

Decisions must be based on access, infrastructure, and community impact, with full transparency and meaningful consultation.

Conservatives

This site was identified by the Department for Education as their preferred location and is inextricably linked to their £50 million funding.

Green Party

We are concerned by the lack of clear engagement and planning surrounding this decision. Currently there seems to be little evidence of genuine need to use this site, and other old schools sites are already available.

Decisions like this must start with the community, not bypass it. What we are seeing is the latest example of opaque council decisions that are simply imposed on the people of Walsall without their input. That needs to change. We hope that this election will bring new leadership to Walsall Council that actually engages with the community.

Labour

On the proposed free school at Reedswood Park, decisions must be guided by the needs of local families, ensuring the right provision is delivered in the right place with proper consideration of community impact.

Liberal Democrats

The Reedswood Park free school location should be decided on local planning reasons, but bear in mind the effect on nearby schools.

Reform UK

Our position is we do not support a school being built on Reedswood Park. The park is for the use of the people of Walsall particularly those in the Beechdale and Reedswood areas of the borough.

Statistics have been presented that show we will have a surplus of school places in the Walsall Borough and there is evidence to suggest that provision will be offered to other local authorities who do not have school place capacity. This means that Walsall would then be using a park to pick up overspill from other authorities.

It is our policy that existing schools should be looked at to be repurposed. Walsall Council has never published any costing for repurposing Sneyd School. It is our view that it would be cheaper and more environmentally friendly to restore Sneyd School than destroy a park to put a school there which people in the locality do not want.

We also have questions as to why the Conservative administration have not pursued using Sneyd School which in our opinion is a viable option – access and the building is already in situ.

And it’s not just the Conservatives but we highlight that the Labour government, which is against free schools, has granted the go ahead for this school in Walsall to be built on Reedswood Park.

The transaction makes no sense on the face of it and all paperwork needs thorough examination relating to the legal and financial implications, and a solution that takes into account the above factors.

Walsall Community Independents

Walsall Community Independents are against the development of a school in Reedswood Park. Windsor Trust is taking the people of Walsall and those who live around Reedswood for fools.

They will be busing in children from other schools rather than providing the spaces for local children. We will be taking all the pain without any gain. The destruction of the local environment and woodland is also unacceptable and creates a further inequality of green space availability across the borough.

Additionally, and perhaps most importantly, the traffic congestion in the area will create health hazards and safety issues. This is a wrong decision and the Labour government must change its position or will once again be betraying the people of Walsall and Birchills, Reedswood and Beechdale.

There are several schools in Walsall that can be expanded or re-opened such as Sneyd or Manor Farm or Pelsall. There is no need to waste all this money on building on our green spaces.