Angry parents say they are hurt by ‘untrue accusations’ that a free school due to open in Chester will be ‘stealing’ a local park to use as a playground.
Parents of children due to start at St Martin’s Academy in Hoole in September have hit back at claims the school will be ‘taking over’ Alexandra Park after accusatory posters were plastered around the community.
Anonymous campaigners have also handed out leaflets in the area, urging people to send their objections to the council.
However, parents and academy directors say the claims are ‘completely untrue’ and that the school has no plans to use the park as an extended playground.
Eager to dispel the myths, a group of parents released a joint statement this week, saying: “We’ve been both confused and hurt by the anonymous literature that has been posted and displayed around Hoole.
“Just like any other parents making a choice about their childrens’ first steps into education, we took great time and consideration in picking St Martin’s Academy and at no point in that process was the use of public space – namely Alexandra Park – ever mentioned to us.
“We were taken completely by surprise at the accusations from unnamed sources that the school would seek to use the park for playtime or even, as it has been claimed, for sporting events.
“We are more than happy with the proposals the school has in place for play and sport provision, both on-site and with the hiring of professional sporting facilities.
“We hope that by speaking out now we can finally put an end to the rumours and inaccurate speculation that have circulated as a result of this anonymous campaign and concentrate once again on helping St Martin’s Academy become an asset to the community it seeks to serve.”
St Martin’s Academy has lodged plans to open in a former council building off Hoole Road, directly next to Alexandra Park.
