Case Presented For High School At New Brighton

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28561, 15 April 1958, Page 10

Case Presented For High School At New Brighton

“The claims for the erection of a new post-primary school to serve the New Brighton area are based on the following facts which have not been refuted, and until they have been answered satisfactorily, the case for New Brighton is unassailable,” says a statement issued by the combined New Brighton school committees m reply to the review given Dy Mr W. J. Cartwright, chairman of the, Christchurch Post-Prmi-ary Schools’ Council. “(1) The chief claim is that of pupil population. The four schools, which serve a district four miles and a half long, are:— South New Brighton (grade VI), Freeville (grade V), North New Brighton (grade VII), District High School (Primary) (grade VII), District High School (Secondary) (grade E). We understand that South Brighton is likely to need another school. Aranui, on the other hand, has one school only, of Grade VI. “(2) Any site east of the river can be approached with ease and safety. If travelling is to oe undertaken, then as few pupils as possible should be required to use the roads. “(3) Buses are already loaded to capacity, and their use by pupils would aggravate this position, especially during the peak loading periods. “Artificial Centre” “(4) The New Brighton residents have supported a district high school for 28 years and, in spite of the erection of additional new Christchurch schools, the numbers have been more than 100 for several years. If translation of the district high school is now proposed, the place for the new school is at New Brighton. Our committee feels incensed that, in spite of the increased population in this area, it is proposed that the existing school be removed out of the district to an artificial centre at Aranui. *‘(s) Because of increased enrolments, post-primary schools in the city will need relief in the near future. This relief will best be effected by erecting the new school at New Brighton, which will cater for the present district

high school pupils as well as those from the four primary schools. “(6) The Post-primary Schools’ Council appeared to have rejected the Rawhiti site on the ground of cost and of time. Now that these costs and time factors have been exposed as incorrect, all of the many points raised in our original submissions to the council should be answered. ”(7) The site at Aranui has the disadvantage of being located in an area zoned as light industrial, according to the City Council’s plan, and no fewer than 12 factories are in the area. The Townplanning Authority has already said that the erection of a school in such an area is not approved. “(8) New Brighton has a population of 10,000 without a fullstatus post-primary school. Ashburton has the same population and has two full scale post-pri-mary schools. On November 14, 1957, Mr Algie agreed that there was a good deal more to be said for the suggestion to plan that only one pupil should be required to travel towards New Brighton rather than to compel four pupils to travel out of Brighton.

“(9) A number of post-prim-ary pupils travel to New Brighton from Burwood and Aranui. This number would be greatly increased if the new post-prim-ary school is erected here with the full complement of facilities a modern school has to offer. Size of School

“(10) It has been asserted that the size of the school would not grow beyond 500. The potential development of the New Brighton areas is great indeed. At South Brighton, North Brighton and Bexley, much development is taking place. The Canterbury Education Board recognised this some time ago and built Freeville school as well as the new manual training centre in Owles terrace. It is interesting to note, too, that the manual centre has had such demands upon it this year from New Brighton schools, that it has not been possible to admit certain schools who previously attended the centre. This is convincing evidence of the growth within the Brighton district.

“(11) It is stated that the PostPrimary Schools Council has remained content with the Aranui site and that, on June 4 last year, recommendations were made to the Minister accordingly. This statement cannot be reconciled with the fact that the Post-Prim-ary Schools’ Council wrote to the New Brighton combined committee on June 7 —only three days later—asking it to secure the Rawhiti site if possible and not less than 20 acres.

“(12) The artificiality of the Aranui ‘centre’ is thrown more clearly into relief when it is realised that only one primary school exists there, and every other pupil would be compelled to travel. Whether the New Brighton pupils would go there without zoning, is a matter of conjecture while those from Burwood would no doubt have their own choice. Under these conditions it is not at all certain that a roll of 850 or anything approaching it, would be reached at Aranui. On the other hand, if a school were placed east of the river, four primary schools as well as the present district high school, would be catered for at once, as well as those who chose to attend from outside. “(13) The combined committees have agreed that the Rawhiti site is ideal both in location, and size. Moreover this reserve land, like that at North New Brighton, should be available for educational purposes. The New Brighton residents should not have to go cap in hand to retrieve an area (now required by them), from the Christchurch City Council which inherited the whole area of 156 acres. The screaming of ‘hands off Rawhiti’ is negative only and the impartial observer would be astounded at the vast area of undeveloped land situated in the centre ,of an otherwise built-up area*. Other sites, too, exist and it is pleasing to note that the Minister is now investigating.”