Crowded Winchester school set to expand onto car park

St Bede Primary School is in negotiations to take some land from St Peter’s car park, off Gordon Road.

The school is negotiating with the city council for spaces which would give it up to room to build some four extra classrooms.

It is the latest example of the pressure most Winchester primary schools have been enduring in recent years.

St Bede is one of the most popular schools in the city and demand for places has intensified so much that it has made internal alterations to accommodate some 15 extra pupils.

Competition is so strong that even pupils who live within the catchment area, of the city centre, Hyde and Abbotts Barton have been unable to get in.

Dominic Hiscock, the chairman of governors, said: “We are looking at a small piece of land in St Peters and negotiating with the city council for about 20 spaces.

“The other thing is that the car park does not flood,” referring to the deluge of December 2000 which inundated St Bede and forced it to relocate to Bereweeke Avenue for more than two years.

Cllr Hiscock blamed local infill development for increasing the number of children. “We have been over-subscribed for the last four or five years. Schools like Kings Worthy, Weeke, Harestock, All Saints and Winnall are all full now.

“When the Wintex Laundry site right on our doorstep is redeveloped for housing, things will become even more difficult.”

He said earlier this year some 15 children who live within catchment were initially denied places for this September and faced daily trips to Oliver’s Battery and South Wonston.

Cllr Hiscock, a Liberal Democrat city councillor, thanked his political opponent, George Beckett, the Conservative council leader for his help. “George has been very good, really supportive the whole way through. But it is the right thing to do.”

Cllr Beckett said: “It is a very successful school and we would like to do whatever we can to help.

“It is not a done deal. We are at very early stages and nothing is finalised.”