City Council urged to build new Primary School in Hove
(May 2009)

Labour Councillor Melanie Davis has called on the City Council to build a new school in Hove.
Following a series of complaints from parents in Goldsmid, Cllr Melanie Davis will be pushing for a new school to be built in Hove to deal with the rise in birth rates and the increasing numbers of young families wishing to settle in Hove.

Cllr Melanie Davis added:

“The shortage of primary school places in Hove is now at crisis point. I have received complaints from parents in Hove that have to take their children to a school in the opposite end of the City. The proposed expansion of Davidgor and Somerhill will go some way to easing the shortage, but a more permanent and positive solution must be given to families in Hove.“

“The Government is currently spending £4.5 billion on school buildings and this Conservative Council should produce a competent and comprehensive bid for money to build new schools for our City. There is a very real need for a new primary school in Hove and the Conservative Council should act now to avoid any future crisis.”

This comes on the day that Cllr Melanie Davis held an urgent meeting with LEA officers about the shortage of school places in Goldsmid. During this meeting she stressed the urgency for immediate action to increase the number of school places alongside the long term goal of building a new school in Hove.

Confirmation has also been given today by the Department for Children, Schools and Families that the strategic plan for Primary Schools in the City had been approved and that Brighton and Hove will be receiving part of the nation £1.5 billion Primary Capital Programme.

Councillor Melanie Davis is the Labour Member for Goldsmid and Governor at Somerhill School

Cllr Melanie Davis can be contacted directly on 01273 290353 or by email at melanie.davis@brighton-hove.gov.uk