School grounds ‘saved’

Press, 10 November 1981, Page 7

School grounds ‘saved’

The Southbridge School will not have to give up half of its five-hectare grounds, says the Minister of Education (Mr Wellington). Last month the Canterbury Education Board’s general manager, Mr David Wilson, said that the school was entitled to only half that area, under an Education Department directive. There was a suggestion that ’ the land might have to be sold. However, on October 24, the board voted to support the school committee in its bid to retain the grounds, which had been maintained by the community for 90 years. Now Mr Wellington has settled the issue.

In a letter to the National Party candidate for Selwyn, Miss Ruth Richardson, the Minister said that the department had “no intention” of disposing of sites where the land was being put to good use, such as at Southbridge.

“The extensive school and community use of the total school site clearly shows that this land is not surplus to requirements,” he said. ‘I am pleased to advise therefore that after due consideration of the circumstances, the Canterbury Education Board has now decided not to pursue the disposal of the land, which will

remain part of the Southbridge Primary School site,” Mr Wellington said.