£15m academy plan under the spotlight

1:00pm Thursday 23rd August 2012 in News By Emma Walker

GOOD: Lindsay Booton, 30, and her husband Matt Macauley, 36, pictured with son Levi GOOD: Lindsay Booton, 30, and her husband Matt Macauley, 36, pictured with son Levi

RESIDENTS flocked to an exhibition to view plans for the Portland Academy.

Detailed plans for the £15million Southwell Park Campus were displayed at Underhill Junior School .

They went on show after criticism by residents over the timing of the exhibition being held in the summer holidays with only a week’s notice.

Many residents are optimistic that the proposals will benefit students and residents on Portland.

Mum Becky Tacey, of Underhill , attended the exhibition with her daughters Amy, nine, and Eva, six.

She said: “The proposals are lovely and with so much money being spent it should turn out really well.

“My only point is that we were promised a new school at Underhill but now that won’t happen.

“I would have preferred that because all parents want to walk their children to school. My children are excited about it though.”

Terry McCormack, who owns an electrical, plumbing and renewable energy contractor business, said: “I am all for it because we have been told they will be sub-contracting work to local companies, which is great for Portland and the area.

“My only point is that of the transport, there will be a lot of children walking all over the island.”

Lisa Kelly, a former governor at Royal Manor who is now involved in the project, said: “This is the best chance Portland has got for better schooling and it is a once-in-a- lifetime opportunity for the island.”

Portland Town Councillor Rod Wild said: “I have an open mind about the proposals. I think they should be more central though as for some children who would walk to school it really is quite far.”

Royal Manor Arts College staff member Bridget Rod said the proposals are ‘fantastic’.

The vocational learning assistant added: “The proposals are fantastic but it is a worrying time on Portland with so much change going on but hopefully it is for the best for students and residents.”

From September, 2013 youngsters from four schools on the island will relocate to the Southwell campus or a campus at Osprey Quay .

The academy opens in existing school buildings in September, 2012.

Alan Brooks, of the Aldridge Foundation, the lead sponsor of the academy said: “The academy is an opportunity for the young people of Portland. We really hope the exhibition allows people to understand our plans by talking to the experts.”

A second exhibition will be held today at the Ocean Dining Room and Bar at Southwell Business Park from 3pm to 7pm.

Theatre and swiming pool

The academy will be home to young people aged between four and 19 together with foundation stage units including reception age children.

Students will move on through the academy when they are ready and not by age with individual learning plans.

On completion, it will have a 200-seat theatre, swimming pool, sports, art drama, music facilities, professional kitchens, as well as a range of science and marine- related facilities.

Younger pupils will benefit from school transport to take them to academy.

What do you think?

Lindsay Booton, 30, and her husband Matt Macauley, 36, pictured with son Levi, also praised the initiative.
She said: “I think the plans are really good the way the older and younger children will be together. We have recently moved to the area and we are so pleased our children can be part of this.”

Debbie Smith, a member of the transitional governing body involved in the project, said she was pleased her sons would benefit from the plans.
She said: “The plans are a fantastic opportunity for the children of Portland and are quite inspirational. I can’t wait for the building to be completed.”

Carole Chapman, who is involved in the transitional governing body of the academy, said: “I am really excited about it all. I love how it is split into different areas and think it is really great for Portland. It is much needed – the schools on Portland at the moment need a lot of work and this would be a great outcome.”

 

 

Comments(76)

maximan says...
1:52pm Thu 23 Aug 12

Echo red rag to a bull department...please prepare for some passionate responses

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Crabber says...
2:30pm Thu 23 Aug 12

Never before have I seen such one sided reporting. Where are all the comments in the Ohec from the many people who are against this and believe me there are many people who are against this proposal for a variety of reasons.The people who are thinking of starting this will 1st need to obtain Planning Permission as this has not yet been granted and may not be, but that is a doubt as ity is more of a question on how big the brown envelopes will be. Putting a scholl on a site which contains industrial works who can employ who they want is not a good move. Also I believe that the land on which this Proposed Development is intended wqas when ther MOD left designate for INDUSTRIAL USE. Also those who think the RMAC Site will become housing and are rubbing their hands should think again as I also believe that this site is ion a green belt.

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portland rebel says...
5:55pm Thu 23 Aug 12

the echo are fully aware that the majority of people are against this, but for some reason that only they know they appear to only publish the views of this foundation of fools.

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nocturnal lady says...
5:58pm Thu 23 Aug 12

I attended this exhibition and made my comments to all the representatives there. Funny enough my comments were questioning a lot of these plans and questioning the terrible decision to send our years 4, 5 and 6 from Underhill to Southwell business park. We were promised that the new school in Osprey Quay would house ALL primary students from Underhill. I made my comments very clear and am very disappointed that I have not been quoted in the above article. Very one-sided! One representative from IPACA more or less said it was because there was no money to invest in the Underhill site. Oh what a surprise. When making my comments I was laughed at, harassed and lied to. What a way to treat a parent of the children they are going to be teaching. I fear for the future x

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portland rebel says...
6:13pm Thu 23 Aug 12

link to facebook group that are against this farce. http://www.facebook.
com/groups/104908066
214028/

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portland6 says...
6:18pm Thu 23 Aug 12

If they only publish the views of the academy, what's this from 2 days ago? http://www.dorsetech
o.co.uk/news/localne
ws/9884499.Portland_
Academy_exhibition_t
iming_row/
And if the majority are against, why do they always quote the same people? There are 1800 children of school age on Portland, there should be thousands of complaints on here if it were true.

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Wintabrew says...
6:39pm Thu 23 Aug 12

What a load of utter rubbish, hundreds of parents are AGAINST this farce of a school being up the BUSINESS park, it is what it says, BUSINESS, busy lorries, ect. When we went to view the plans up at Southwell today there were very heated discussions going on which I didn't get into, but the lorries & the rest of the commercial traffic will have to use the same entrance as the kids, MADNESS!!!!

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portland rebel says...
6:44pm Thu 23 Aug 12

portland6 wrote:
If they only publish the views of the academy, what's this from 2 days ago? http://www.dorsetech

o.co.uk/news/localne

ws/9884499.Portland_

Academy_exhibition_t

iming_row/
And if the majority are against, why do they always quote the same people? There are 1800 children of school age on Portland, there should be thousands of complaints on here if it were true.
and when ever there is a report in this so called newspaper about the proposed academy by far the majority of comments are against it LIKE MOST OF THIS ISLAND.

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portland6 says...
6:58pm Thu 23 Aug 12

There are between 4 and 13 negative contributors on each of the academy stories this month. Everyone who has commented here has commented on those, too. It's a long way shy of a majority!

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portland rebel says...
7:17pm Thu 23 Aug 12

portland6 wrote:
There are between 4 and 13 negative contributors on each of the academy stories this month. Everyone who has commented here has commented on those, too. It's a long way shy of a majority!
you believe what you wish but there are 447 members to date against this farce.

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crowther2 says...
7:20pm Thu 23 Aug 12

I haven't commented before, but it seems to be to me that some have been blinded by the promises. Its a simple maths equation. School cost £15m, build (estimates already printed in various sources) 800 houses on old school site/s (what else can it be used for!), sell for approx £200,000 each, do the math, there is only one winner and its not the kids or Portland. We need the fields not more houses, if you love our island you have to think further than the £15m, besides why cant the money be used on the existing site, if we can cope with the olympic preparations i,m sure a bit of building work on the school will be nothing

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Wedgey says...
8:01pm Thu 23 Aug 12

What a one-sided report from the Echo on this Academy business...they should've been at the meeting today at Southwell and seen what the majority of people feel about this ridiculous scenario...The majority of questions that I asked were met with a reply of "I don't know", but as in the above report the experts were there with the answers to our questions supposedly.... Bridget Rod is quoted as saying “The proposals are fantastic but it is a worrying time on Portland with so much change going on but hopefully it is for the best for students and residents.” Well if this goes thru we'll find out and hopefully our childrens education won't suffer and residents in Southwell find their property prices dropping like stones

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jjue3 says...
8:19pm Thu 23 Aug 12

Once again one-sided views reported from the Echo, surely any worthy newspaper would print views from both sides!!!!!

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Wintabrew says...
9:08pm Thu 23 Aug 12

64 members of 'Portland says yes to the Academy', 447 members of 'Say no to the Portland Academy'. Think that says it all really!!! Good old Facebook.

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shop worker says...
9:31pm Thu 23 Aug 12

I think the main reason people don't comment on here is that they know the paper is just one sided. Any articles that have been done when people have objected to the academy have come across as being from silly people. We are not silly we know what we hope and want for our children.

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lilybb says...
10:29pm Thu 23 Aug 12

I am quoted in this interveiw and although i sm pleased about some aspects.. we were told that it would be our choice if we wanted to send our year 4 and 1 children upto the top school in 2013 when our oldest reaches year 7. If, however, we are forced to send them then that is another matter all together!

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bradley red 1 says...
10:31pm Thu 23 Aug 12

There is no doubt in my mind that southwell business park is not the place to put this academy! hope this gets rejected by planning,really do!! if it does get the go ahead then i see major problems ahead,the idea of using the existing royal manor field for sports is ridiculous,there are to many "i dont know answers" by the people pushing this through to give us any confidence at all, SAY NO TO PORTLAND ACADEMY AT SOUTHWELL BUSINESS PARK!!

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Westwindblower says...
10:36pm Thu 23 Aug 12

I attended the exhibition today. It all seems very unsatisfactory as far as I can see. What is very worrying is that there seemed to be a majority of people who were very opposed to the plan. I have seen very little evidence of the reporting of the opposing view. The problems related to traffic will not be considered until after planning permission has been agreed. The traffic problem should be a major consideration and taken into account before permission surely. It seems odd that on the second floor above the classes there is private residential accomodation. These flats are privately owned. It seems that the school will start off with 1500 pupils but will be capable of housing over 2000. These pupils will cover all ages from infants to 6th form. It seems a negative step to centralise primary education as there is something very valuble having a small local school easily accessible to parents and pupils. I liked the close relationship with a small school when my children were that young. It helped keep a good working relationship with parents and teacher and pupil. I would think it will be quite daunting for such young children to be starting at such a large institution. I do not believe it will be so personal. It seems that the hotel will remain and that the access road will bring in children, lorries, buses cars. There appeared little room for parents to drop off their children by car which alot of parents will need to do when trying to balance getting their children to school and then getting to work. This will be more of a problem at Southwell as it is not as central as Royal Manor.This will put a huge burden on local roads and residents. I would think there is likely to be a need for double yellow lines on the roads leading up to the business park. This may be an issue along Avalanche Road as it is narrow, also Sweethill Lane and Road. It seems a very poor argument to say that Portland will not get the money unless the Academy opens at Southwell. This seems rediculous and surely the powers that be should address this and improve the schools that we already have. This argument should not be accepted as a reason. it seems to me that the planning permission is a decision that has all but been signed off already. The pressure on local planners has been hyped up too much for them to disagree. I hope that the Echo starts to share a balanced view as I have seen little sign of it so far.

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Laadeeda says...
10:38pm Thu 23 Aug 12

If it means no more pre and post pubescent youths exchanging body fluids outside my house I'm all for the move!

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sonbee says...
3:11am Fri 24 Aug 12

you cannot judge public opinion based solely on comments on this website!
I am not against the academy per se, I did not like the prospect of having the choice of where my children are educated taken away from me, but with st georges opting out this is no longer a problem. I hold deep reservations about the 'ALL-THROUGH ACADEMY' feeling that a senior-level only academy would be more appropriate.
From the very beginning of this idea, there has been serious opposition, beginning with st georges fight to opt out. I believe parents at the other schools were led to believe we were a small-minded minority who were stuck in our ways, and 'scared and frightened' of the wonderful opportunities being offered to us. This is not the case! From the outset our concerns and questions have been ridiculed, brushed aside and skirted around, and parents from the other 7 schools are starting to experience this very thing, with the unexpected news that pupils from underhill will now travel to southwell campus from age 7- not 11 as they were led to believe.
The whole business has been appears to been badly managed and with disregards to any legitimate criticism. Parents have had little or no solid information to refer to, as such rumour has taken facts place!
The atmosphere at todays meeting at southwell was one of confusion, anger that our concerns are YET again being ignored and total absolute agreement that southwell business park IS THE WRONG PLACE TO HAVE A CAMPUS!
I did not hear one person speak IN FAVOUR of the location, who wasnt involved in the academy! I walked around listening to peoples queries for well over an hour.
I dont think the southwell campus will achieve planning permission until COMPETENT,PRACTICAL AND ACHIEVABLE plans to overcome the issues raised today are put forward!!!

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Flinty Portlander says...
4:20am Fri 24 Aug 12

This is being pushed through regardless, the theme that RM building is not 'fit for purpose' after having expensive extensions added for years, and being central for all Islanders, has never been explained. Logic and experience says spending the money on the existing schools and utilising the different sites ( like Plymouth) would using the same teachers produce a better result. No real consultation of FACTS have taken place yet. We will rue this Political fix to comply with providing an Academy in years to come.

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Wedgey says...
8:21am Fri 24 Aug 12

The internal floor plans showed that the majority of the perimeter of the building was "open plan"...how on earth are our children meant to learn with other classes noise coming from every direction...I worked at Land Registry for many years and that was open plan and obviously not as noisy as a school, but it was distracting...noise travels and it will make learning difficult for children...and as for the roads leading into the Campus they are awful...I drove back yesterday from the Southwell exhibition following a bus and cars were mounting the pavement on the opposite side of the road to get past and Jane Fook, one of the Aldridge sponsors, was talking about putting cycle lanes in to promote kids riding their bikes..our kids lives are being put at risk here from a totally unsuitable location...if planning doesn't get permitted then all children will stay in existing schools and carry on as happily as they did before, I hope to God that this happens and better still that the Aldridge Foundation hand our childrens education back to Local Education Authorities cos I have lost what little faith I had in them by their total lack of incompetence and lack of communication with parents on important issues!!!

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portland6 says...
8:43am Fri 24 Aug 12

RM can barely cope with the number of students it has now, let alone a sixth form. Apart from portable huts, I'm not aware of anything having been built there since the 80s. The roof leaks - they have buckets in reception catching water. There's no sports field, no playground, too little room for lockers. Good grief, it's an arts college and there isn't a theatre or even a stage! Their most successful sport is water polo, and there's no pool! How is it "fit for purpose"? Oh, plus, 447 people on Facebook would be less than a quarter of the parents even if every child on Portland was being raised by a single parent and every Facebook member was a parent (not someone from the council etc.).

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Wintabrew says...
8:55am Fri 24 Aug 12

NO SPORTS FIELD????? What the hell is that huge grassy area over the road? NO PLAYGROUND??? There's a huge caged off area to the side of the sport's hall. The point I was making with Facebook numbers was as percentages go there is a far higher percentage of people AGAINST this whole farce of a project than for it!

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sonbee says...
9:20am Fri 24 Aug 12

portland6 did you attend any of these planning meetings? you, surely are not so blinkered to have missed the FACT that the overwhelming opinion of parents and residents alike at these meetings yesterday is that this site is totally unsuitable! As for sports space I was told that the academy may have to use the EXISTING SPORTS FIELD AT ROYAL MANOR CAMPUS as the space at the PROPOSED site isnt large enough!
I agree Royal Manor does need improvement, but using the site at southwell business park is not going to achieve this.
This is NOT against the Academy but the Unsuitability of this site as a main campus, the total lack of confidence in the actual planning of anything other than the building, it has not been thought out properly!

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Gunzilla says...
9:31am Fri 24 Aug 12

I like many, many other attended the exhibition too, it certainly didn't seem like a majority wanted the academy there, there were lots of heated arguements between parents and staff/governors from Ipaca.
When I voiced a concern to one of the governors Matt Longshaw about the possibilty of people using the hotel with a concerning interest in children ie. paedophiles, he replyed with "well, if they can afford the hotel prices, good luck to them" - what a disgraceful and flippant attitude to have when our childrens safety should be of paramount concern to them.
I, for one, am absolutely disgusted.

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sonbee says...
9:44am Fri 24 Aug 12

Gunzilla wrote:
I like many, many other attended the exhibition too, it certainly didn't seem like a majority wanted the academy there, there were lots of heated arguements between parents and staff/governors from Ipaca.
When I voiced a concern to one of the governors Matt Longshaw about the possibilty of people using the hotel with a concerning interest in children ie. paedophiles, he replyed with "well, if they can afford the hotel prices, good luck to them" - what a disgraceful and flippant attitude to have when our childrens safety should be of paramount concern to them.
I, for one, am absolutely disgusted.
I think this highlights perfectly the attitude towards any questions and concerns raised that parents have faced from the outset of this proposal! responses to queries were weak and uninformative, varied from 'expert 'to 'expert' with no absolutely no clarification at all, and clearly in more than one case were treated as a joke. Im sure parents of children that have been subjected to abuse would agree that these concerns need to be adressed before planning is subjected, let alone approved!

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Tophill says...
10:29am Fri 24 Aug 12

the whole situation is a complete nightmare, why are the Aldridge Foundation still not helping to get parents on-side? I have written 3 letters since June and received one acknowledgement but not one reply!!! infuriates me that they take the stance 'this is what always happens when Academies are opened, it'll all just settle down soon' patronising and rude has been my encounter with each and everyone of them so far. I like being involved with my children's education, it's important to me...but seems my concerns and having my involvement with the Academy are irrelevant to them. To say I'm very disappointed with the whole thing would be an understatement

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Spiny Norma says...
10:40am Fri 24 Aug 12

And what about those of us who either run or work for a business at Southwell? Notwithstanding the huge increase in traffic in the mornings and afternoons, will we have to be CRB checked so that we can go and stretch our legs in our lunch-breaks? Of course, the kids are all going to be perfect angels and not in any way abusive to any of us!

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Laughing gnome says...
11:08am Fri 24 Aug 12

Terry McCormack, who owns an electrical,plumbing & renewable energy contractor business said: " I am all for it because we have been told they will be sub contracting work to local companies, which is great for Portland & the area" & "my only point is that of transport, there will be a lot of children walking all over the Island"
Well done Terry. Nice bit of free advertising. Do you know Emma who wrote the article ?
As for the children that will be affected by this decision, your main worry is that they will be walking all over the Island ?

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sonbee says...
11:53am Fri 24 Aug 12

Laughing gnome wrote:
Terry McCormack, who owns an electrical,plumbing & renewable energy contractor business said: " I am all for it because we have been told they will be sub contracting work to local companies, which is great for Portland & the area" & "my only point is that of transport, there will be a lot of children walking all over the Island"
Well done Terry. Nice bit of free advertising. Do you know Emma who wrote the article ?
As for the children that will be affected by this decision, your main worry is that they will be walking all over the Island ?
I dont think making personal snidey comments very helpful at all!
He has a valid point,the academy DID originally say local subcontractors would be used, but again at yesterdays meeting that seemed in doubt.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion!

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sonbee says...
12:12pm Fri 24 Aug 12

Im glad you brought this up, as this seemed to be a major concern yesterday. Surely all staff members of ALL the businesses on site will need to be checked? There is no security fencing on the plans, so primary age children will be exposed not only to traffic to these businesses, but potential risks of snatching from paedophiles using the businesses as a legitimate reason to get on site.Also the fact that guests at the hotel overlook the childrens sports area, posing a potential security nightmare. There are privately occupied residential flats on the second floor that seem to share the main campus entrance, will the residents need to be security checked? who will police this? what if a child/ren interact with these businesses, have an altercation with the staff, then accuse them of abuse as a form of revenge? it has been done before!
Im sure some will consider this a miniscule risk, but parents need reassurance, as do the members of staff in the surrounding areas who are potentially putting themselves in a situation they would otherwise avoid!

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portland rebel says...
12:35pm Fri 24 Aug 12

Matt longshaw should resign as he is obviously not fit to be a school govonor,
but then again his reply was on par with the contempt that these people appear to have with those that oppose this farce.

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Laughing gnome says...
12:41pm Fri 24 Aug 12

Sonbee. In my opinion, Mr McCormack's comments do not in any way highlight an 'opinion'on the effect any decision that will be been made that will influence the students futures. He seems to be more interested in whether he will possibly get any work at the site !

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PEJ says...
1:26pm Fri 24 Aug 12

I do hope all the parents of the children who will attend the Academy realize there will be mainly open plan classrooms could this be they do not have the room to place proper classrooms. I can only imagine many hundreds of children all being taught with just partitions to dull the sound. The distraction seems incomprehensible. Sound rises and with the high ceilings of Southwell Business Park noise will most definately be heard in an open plan design. I asked all the people involved in the meeting from Ipaca governers to the construction company none could tell me how many actual classrooms would be built.

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marriedwith3 says...
3:02pm Fri 24 Aug 12

This comment from Matt Longshaw has put the final nail in the coffin for me with regards to the academy, i have never been against a senior academy but have had a lot of concerns regarding the primary element. I think Underhill parents have been sold out now having to send their children to Southwell from year 4. (all due to lack of money from what was said at Underhill exhibition). Transport plans are vague to say the least and well it seems they don't take the children's safety seriously, we're being told to campaign for the coastguard helicopter if we have concerns about kids walking the cliffs and that if "peadophiles can afford to stay in the hotel and watch our children then good luck to them." Makes my stomach sick and i wont leave these people in charge of my precious children. i will be looking at schooling else where, firstly at St Georges and then to Weymouth for seniors when the time comes. Good luck to any parent that send their children to this farce of a school.

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portland6 says...
4:19pm Fri 24 Aug 12

There's no sports field, just a shared grassy area across a main road covered in dog's mess. Could you have Hardye's to visit and play rugby there? You could not. And yes, I did attend the planning meeting at Underhill. It was crowded, and everyone seemed positive. Look, I've got 3 children, I want them to go to a modern, well-equipped school with a 6th form. I see some people shouting no, talking about how they were right and how they're going to block planning permission, how the island is apparently riddled with paedos (but saying there's deprivation is offensive!!), how the present site could be converted despite the obvious fact it couldn't - but I see no ideas as to the alternative. Honestly, what DO you want? Is it just to take £15million away from local education, because that is what will happen!

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Laadeeda says...
4:52pm Fri 24 Aug 12

Wintabrew wrote:
NO SPORTS FIELD????? What the hell is that huge grassy area over the road? NO PLAYGROUND??? There's a huge caged off area to the side of the sport's hall. The point I was making with Facebook numbers was as percentages go there is a far higher percentage of people AGAINST this whole farce of a project than for it!
So it's not just me then that keeps seeing that great huge multi pitched field opposite the 'RM Campus' as it has been re named - again!

Thank goodness for that!

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nocturnal lady says...
5:19pm Fri 24 Aug 12

When I spoke to Jane Fooks about the funding issue if the academy does not go ahead at Southwell Business Park, she told me that the Government would fund the academy for 1 year in existing buildings. This at the moment, from the comments that I've received, and what has been shown to me, would be far better than the Academy being at Southwell Business Park. Our kids do not deserve some 2nd rate, shoddy, under-funded school on a business park.

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debsurfs says...
6:27pm Fri 24 Aug 12

I think it needs to be made perfectly clear that three independent studies have confirmed that the existing schools and their sites are not appropriate for re-modelling and/or expansion. The building at Southwell Park has been the subject of a number of surveys and is deemed to be in unusually good condition and energy efficient for its age. The building will be completely modernised, including the roof, and will provide an excellent range of facilities (including a purpose-built sports hall) for our children and the wider community. The Academy site will be fenced and the building design includes layers of security zones which will provide very high levels of security, segregation and safety for students; safeguarding will be of paramount importance!
This is an unprecedented opportunity to achieve a substantial investment in the future of the children and young people of Portland and provide them with a 21st Century learning environment which DOES NOT exist in any of our current schools.

If planning permission is not granted, the funding will be lost and will not be available to spend on existing sites. It will be a travesty if this happens, our children deserve to be given this once in a lifetime opportunity!

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portland rebel says...
6:40pm Fri 24 Aug 12

portland6 wrote:
There's no sports field, just a shared grassy area across a main road covered in dog's mess. Could you have Hardye's to visit and play rugby there? You could not. And yes, I did attend the planning meeting at Underhill. It was crowded, and everyone seemed positive. Look, I've got 3 children, I want them to go to a modern, well-equipped school with a 6th form. I see some people shouting no, talking about how they were right and how they're going to block planning permission, how the island is apparently riddled with paedos (but saying there's deprivation is offensive!!), how the present site could be converted despite the obvious fact it couldn't - but I see no ideas as to the alternative. Honestly, what DO you want? Is it just to take £15million away from local education, because that is what will happen!
when the original plan was formed it was for i believe on a budget of 50million in a pupose built school.
now its 15million to be spent on run down 60year buildings that are in the wrong location and enviroment, and from that how much has already been used, if you want second rate for your kids good for you.
as for the aldridge foundation the quality of staff they employ has proved to be poor as been proven through this farce and makes me wonder if they are fit for purpose.
yes i would rather we lost the 15million which in reality is very little money bearing in mind that the goverment states the average start up cost for an academy is 25million.

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portland6 says...
7:32pm Fri 24 Aug 12

The amount has always been £24 million; search here or google Jim Knight's original announcement. That's the £8 million for Underhill and the £15 million for Southwell. Academies usually cost more to start up because they are built from scratch. And once again - there has been no investment in Portland since the 80s, and we are being offered this money for Southwell OR NOTHING! Second rate would be insisting on staying in the existing dilapidated buildings with the only 6th forms miles away off the island. Our children deserve better - and those of you saying your children are attending St George's then Weymouth have opted out and should maybe stop trying to spoil it for the rest of us!

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Gunzilla says...
7:45pm Fri 24 Aug 12

Surely you can all see past the pretty pictures and promises of fancy equipment, it's the TEACHERS who TEACH our children!!!! They are the ones who educate and nurture our children, not an open plan building with curved walls and 'social' areas!!!

Professor Heppel told us it was going to be a £50 million investment with a brand new purpose built school, this is now a £15million investment into an entirely unsuitable building, which, I grant you, can be refurb'd but the location itself is no good for a school..... The phrase "you can't polish a turd" springs to mind......

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Wintabrew says...
7:46pm Fri 24 Aug 12

nocturnal lady wrote:
When I spoke to Jane Fooks about the funding issue if the academy does not go ahead at Southwell Business Park, she told me that the Government would fund the academy for 1 year in existing buildings. This at the moment, from the comments that I've received, and what has been shown to me, would be far better than the Academy being at Southwell Business Park. Our kids do not deserve some 2nd rate, shoddy, under-funded school on a business park.
Whoever you are, I totally agree, how they can fulfil their 'vision' with the funds available is beyond me.

THIS HAS TO BE FOUGHT AGAINST!!!

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portland6 says...
7:55pm Fri 24 Aug 12

I genuinely cannot believe that some of you seem to be arguing that you think £15 million isn't enough, so we should fight to be given absolutely nothing! Our teachers are great, yes - but they can't offer A-levels without rooms to do them in, drama without a theatre, tech in a condemned tech block. Go and look around Hardye's and Budmouth and tell me you'd rather have a leaky ceiling!

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debsurfs says...
8:01pm Fri 24 Aug 12

I agree we have some outstanding teachers and some schools have achieved outstanding results; just think what can be achieved by these same teachers with outstanding resources and facilities!

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PortlandParent says...
8:22pm Fri 24 Aug 12

I attended the Underhill session and during the time I was there most people were supportive of the plans. There may be many who are not happy but they were certainly not at the session when I was there so maybe some people commenting on here are underestimating the number of people who are happy..

I talked to the planning rep from DCC while I was at Underhill. She had all the facts about the school stock in Dorset and from her statistics, and my own experience of Portland schools, I can say the schools on Portland are well below what is expected in Dorset or desirable. Money should have been spent on Portland schools before now but the fact is that it hasn't been forthcoming.

If we do not accept this money and this plan our children will continue to have a sub-standard school environment. Make no mistake DfE will not invest any money in the current schools - even if they do leak and are riddled with asbestos.

I agree that teachers do matter but to attract the best teachers to an area you need to provide the best facilities. I want the best that is possible for my children and the current plan provides the only possible solution.

I am surprised that some people are happy to continue to accept sub-standard school fabric on Portland rather than work to make this
solution the best possible.

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marriedwith3 says...
8:26pm Fri 24 Aug 12

I for one am very glad that we have the options of st George's and then i will look at weymouth because after some of the shocking behaviour and comments that came from the officials at the exhibitions I won't trust these people with my children luckly my eldest isn't due at seniors yet. Of course nobody wants to lose £15 million but can you put a price on children's safety. I don't know if moving our schools is going to improve education on the island or not only the future will show us that. Maybe i will be proved wrong and in 8 yrs time maybe my youngest can attend ipaca but as things stand i have to make a choice for my eldest and sadly this week has made that choice for us

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Wintabrew says...
8:31pm Fri 24 Aug 12

We all want the best for our children, of coarse we do, that goes without saying! What I DON'T want is to have to send them out to the far end of the Island, right by the cliffs on a BUSINESS park!! The site is just TOTALLY wrong for a school & I for one along with A LOT of my friends will be fighting this as far as we have to.

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portland maid says...
8:41pm Fri 24 Aug 12

debsurfs wrote:
I agree we have some outstanding teachers and some schools have achieved outstanding results; just think what can be achieved by these same teachers with outstanding resources and facilities!
That's the point? There aren't any facilities! I have taught in open plan areas, some in weymouth college its a nightmare, you can't keep pupils attention and it's really hard to make yourself heard so learning suffers badly. This location is not central, it is not safe, (cliff edges, traffic, non crb checked people, access to working machinery near to inquisitive children, just a few of my worries) and to be quite honest the academy 'organisers' are rude, blinkered, and in it for themselves. Laughing at parents when serious concerns are raised is proof that this scheme is a waste of money and a jolly for the lunatic fringe.

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k8ty1971 says...
8:52pm Fri 24 Aug 12

Just a small comment, isn't it about time the local press ie the echo listend to the majority rather than the minority? As the majority of parents, grandparents and community have numerous concerns. Come on echo

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PortlandParent says...
8:56pm Fri 24 Aug 12

I do not understand the argument that there are no facilities on the proposed campus. The drawings clearly showed science labs, technology labs, art rooms, music practice rooms, music studios, a library, a theatre, a sports hall, a drama studio, enterprise rooms, small group work rooms, an early years centre with its own entrance, play area and dinning room and so on. I can only speak for my own experience of course but the session I attended was helpful and it was clear where the boundaries of the Academy were to be and that they were to be clearly marked with a secure entrance.

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k8ty1971 says...
8:59pm Fri 24 Aug 12

PortlandParent wrote:
I do not understand the argument that there are no facilities on the proposed campus. The drawings clearly showed science labs, technology labs, art rooms, music practice rooms, music studios, a library, a theatre, a sports hall, a drama studio, enterprise rooms, small group work rooms, an early years centre with its own entrance, play area and dinning room and so on. I can only speak for my own experience of course but the session I attended was helpful and it was clear where the boundaries of the Academy were to be and that they were to be clearly marked with a secure entrance.
mmmm yes it did show all of these areas but when you look carefully one thing we noticed is that some of these areas are VERY small and can hold very few children

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Crabber says...
9:12pm Fri 24 Aug 12

Does anyone of you realize that while you manking and moaning about the state of 'Campus' that the proposed building for this Educational Farce is in fact pre cold war delapidated and cold & draughty and the last time I looked in a pretty poor condition. I firmly believe that if this hads to happen then the existing sites should be developed. Have any of you pro academy parents actually had any experience in one? My friends kids attend one in Northants and he has said it was the worse thing the did the 8-9 year olds are like 15-16 year olds and the standard of education has drastically dropped ,the kids cannot concentrate as there is so much going on around them.. As for' dedbsurfs' yes we all know who you are and you spout the same drivel on every site you go on, next you will be naming names and personally insulting people.As for the local business man hoping to get work wtf has this got to do with it. I have been on the end of some of your so called work and I think it is safe to say you can get cheaper & better elsewhere

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steve37 says...
10:10pm Fri 24 Aug 12

To stop all the arguments they should put it to a vote let the parents decide but we all know this wont happen because the powers that be no it will be voted out bit like the euro referendum. Lets rise up show them who's boss POWER TO THE PEOPLE!!

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portland6 says...
10:22pm Fri 24 Aug 12

Crabber, the irony of your accusing someone of personally insulting people before immediately insulting someone is amusing! I'd welcome a proper vote on this. The vote on the Portlanders website got something like 140 "no" votes, there are only 447 members of the 'say no' Facebook page. The ipaca.org site was run by people who weren't from Portland, and some of the say no campaigners regularly quoted in the Echo aren't even parents. Until recently, meetings held at my children's school have had about 8 parents attending. I reckon that the vast majority of parents are for or not bothered.

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portland rebel says...
11:15pm Fri 24 Aug 12

can i just say that looking at all these comments there are about 3 supporters
and many many more against.

but hey everyone supports this !

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sonbee says...
11:27pm Fri 24 Aug 12

Of course no one wants to see 15 million pounds funding disappear, but this does not mean it should be forced through in any old place, so it doesnt slip through our fingers! THIS SITE IS UNSUITABLE!
yes the plans looked marvellous ON PAPER, but practical problems have not been suitably adressed! none of my questions were answered, I was reassured by each person that 'itll be fine' but not one practical or competent answer was given to me and they varied dramatically between each person. But my problem is mainly with the way parents concerns have been ridiculed, ignored and skirted around! Its irrelevant which side has the biggest following, its going through so lets get the most out of the funding, not panic its all slipping away and rush into the first place that could work!
STOP FIGHTING, WORK TOGETHER! and get some proper solutions to these problems in place.

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Wedgey says...
8:52am Sat 25 Aug 12

Sonbee...so we just sit back & give up our fight?? At least if we do everything within our capability, whatever the outcome, we can say we tried!!!!

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sonbee says...
1:32pm Sat 25 Aug 12

Wedgey wrote:
Sonbee...so we just sit back & give up our fight?? At least if we do everything within our capability, whatever the outcome, we can say we tried!!!!
no im not suggesting for one second that we give up im sayng we actually ALL WANT WHATS BEST FOR OUR KIDS! We need to stop fighting amongst ourselves about which group is the biggest, the PRO ACADEMY people need to stop just SAYING of course it will be ok, actually LISTEN to the AGAINST ACADEMY group and start SHOWING real solutions to the problems and concerns that they have! Until that happens Planning pemission is going to be fiercly contested all the way!

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portland6 says...
1:32pm Sat 25 Aug 12

But WHAT IS THE FIGHT? The current options are Southwell or nothing. The no camp seem to be fighting for nothing. Then what? Because no-one is ever going to invest in Portland again if we throw £15 million back in someone's face. And the issues are transport and paedos? You don't think there are easy solutions to those problems that don't involve refusing a new school? Please tell me what the alternative is - and remember, I genuinely AM a parent of 3, who aspires for my children going to 6th form, so "leave it like it is" isn't going to cut it for me.

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Flinty Portlander says...
2:18pm Sat 25 Aug 12

Strange how there is no comment from the teachers or their union.
Also, as the ex MOD building is so old, why is there no posted Costings for the 'conversion' to an Academy.
Has anyone ever known such a programme go to Budget with old buildings, therefore, with so many unknowns what will have to be 'budgeted out' for overspend ( because we did not know..... ) . Is this a FIXED Cost Guarantee provision,
OH I doubt it, is there a Contingency sum underwritten by county or Gov't ? No I doubt it. Open plan is cheap, heating will be expensive, who pays to upgrade the roads in and Open Reap Lane for the commercial access .

Where are the 3 Costed schemes to be appraised on existing site - ask the question you require the answer for seems relevant here .
Wrong place and a lot from underhill will go to Wyke if possible as quicker.
Any 6th former will choose Weymouth or Dorch, well established with facilities and track record.What happens then to the budget ? Where are the Running cost break even figures and Budget for this Academy and the Variance provisions to take a balanced view and decide what is best for a child and their future. What benchmarking of performance is there going to be for year 1 to 5 say ???
Obviousely no business people involved in this scheme

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portland rebel says...
2:58pm Sat 25 Aug 12

i have just been looking at the echo archives re academy, and what makes me laugh is at the conception it was the same old names supporting this academy and most of there support was for issues that so far have been disproved so how silly you now all look.
Yes i would rather loose the 15million now, and in the future we can look forward to something better than the second best which is currently on the cards, the more this farce is pushed by the pro's the more i think they are stupid, brainwashed or there for finacial gain it certainly isnt for the long term good of this island or our childrens education.

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k8ty1971 says...
2:58pm Sat 25 Aug 12

sonbee wrote:
Wedgey wrote:
Sonbee...so we just sit back & give up our fight?? At least if we do everything within our capability, whatever the outcome, we can say we tried!!!!
no im not suggesting for one second that we give up im sayng we actually ALL WANT WHATS BEST FOR OUR KIDS! We need to stop fighting amongst ourselves about which group is the biggest, the PRO ACADEMY people need to stop just SAYING of course it will be ok, actually LISTEN to the AGAINST ACADEMY group and start SHOWING real solutions to the problems and concerns that they have! Until that happens Planning pemission is going to be fiercly contested all the way!
I too are a parent from what is considered to a large family. I aim high and would like to see the same for my children. But what I don't want is for them to remain at the same for want of a better word 'school' for sixth form. There is a big wide world out there and they need to live it and experience the wider world.
Oh and the business park isn't the building much older than schools we accommodate at he moment?

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Spiny Norma says...
5:25pm Sat 25 Aug 12

One thing seems blindingly obvious to me: with only a year to go before the Academy opens its doors, isn't it rather short notice to be asking people's opinions this late in the game, especially when one considers the amount of work that has to be done to make the Southwell site fit for purpose? The details have probably been available for years - in a deep basement at Local Education Central, behind a door bearing a sign which reads (with a respectful nod to the late Douglas Adams), "BEWARE OF THE LEOPARD"!

Two words: 'fait' and 'accompli'...

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nocturnal lady says...
5:31pm Sat 25 Aug 12

Portland 6, parent of 3 - the option is to have the funding for 1 year in existing buildings (Jane Fooks told me this). £15 million is going no-where at Southwell Business Park, I'm afraid!!! Almost half of that was needed to buy the land in the first place! I went to 6th form off the island, and know plenty of others who did. I enjoyed making new friends, seeing a different side to life. I went on to University and loved it. Just think what 1 year of funding would do in existing sites. As someone who is opposed to the Academy being at Southwell Business Park (not no to the Academy ethos) I think this alternative is far safer, more realistic and most importantly of all, far better for our children.

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PortlandParent says...
7:57pm Sat 25 Aug 12

Regarding the comments above

1) I am not a person who has continually commented on this subject - I have never commented before and was only prompted to comment by the assumptions on here that everyone attending the exhibition was against the new Academy building.

2) The assumption that older buildings are not as well built as more modern buildings is simply not true. Some older properties have been built with a stronger structure and far better than those buildings built in the early 70's when they were thrown together.

3) The money for the building is coming from DfE who will not release money unless a suitable structure can be guaranteed, so ideas that £15m cannot buy and repair the building (including repair of the roof I understand), remodel the inside and provide suitable space and facilitates for the number of children to occupy it is simply not true.

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portland rebel says...
12:05pm Sun 26 Aug 12

PortlandParent wrote:
Regarding the comments above

1) I am not a person who has continually commented on this subject - I have never commented before and was only prompted to comment by the assumptions on here that everyone attending the exhibition was against the new Academy building.

2) The assumption that older buildings are not as well built as more modern buildings is simply not true. Some older properties have been built with a stronger structure and far better than those buildings built in the early 70's when they were thrown together.

3) The money for the building is coming from DfE who will not release money unless a suitable structure can be guaranteed, so ideas that £15m cannot buy and repair the building (including repair of the roof I understand), remodel the inside and provide suitable space and facilitates for the number of children to occupy it is simply not true.
so please tell us where the 8million came from to purchase this site.

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Wintabrew says...
5:28pm Sun 26 Aug 12

When Aldridge foundation sells off Royal Manor& Southwell School they then pocket the money & et voila they have spent NOTHING on ruining a bit more of our precious island, thanks.......NOT!!!

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debsurfs says...
7:17pm Sun 26 Aug 12

The Aldridge Foundation does not own the land at RMAC and Southwell School it is being leased from DCC!

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Weston7 says...
11:28pm Sun 26 Aug 12

.

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debsurfs says...
8:51pm Tue 28 Aug 12

portland maid wrote:
debsurfs wrote:
I agree we have some outstanding teachers and some schools have achieved outstanding results; just think what can be achieved by these same teachers with outstanding resources and facilities!
That's the point? There aren't any facilities! I have taught in open plan areas, some in weymouth college its a nightmare, you can't keep pupils attention and it's really hard to make yourself heard so learning suffers badly. This location is not central, it is not safe, (cliff edges, traffic, non crb checked people, access to working machinery near to inquisitive children, just a few of my worries) and to be quite honest the academy 'organisers' are rude, blinkered, and in it for themselves. Laughing at parents when serious concerns are raised is proof that this scheme is a waste of money and a jolly for the lunatic fringe.
No facilities??? Have you been to see the plans????

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Laughing gnome says...
11:29am Wed 29 Aug 12

.+.=..

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crowther2 says...
1:31pm Wed 29 Aug 12

The Portland News -article by David Hawkins quote 'Weymouth and Portland Borough Council is responsible the buildings and land on which education takes place there fore the acadamy cannot move to southwell business park without planning permission, Southwell Business Park is specifically designated as a Key Employment site, restricte to light industry, offices and storage. The planning application for the acadamy will soon be submitted perhaps this month or September. Planning reference 12/00455/FULMAJ.' It is therefore not a forgone conclussion that it will go ahead if planning is refused, but that needs letters to the planning officer at WPBC as the acadamy obviously believes that the council will change their own rules on just what this land can be used for.

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portland rebel says...
6:26pm Wed 29 Aug 12

crowther2 wrote:
The Portland News -article by David Hawkins quote 'Weymouth and Portland Borough Council is responsible the buildings and land on which education takes place there fore the acadamy cannot move to southwell business park without planning permission, Southwell Business Park is specifically designated as a Key Employment site, restricte to light industry, offices and storage. The planning application for the acadamy will soon be submitted perhaps this month or September. Planning reference 12/00455/FULMAJ.' It is therefore not a forgone conclussion that it will go ahead if planning is refused, but that needs letters to the planning officer at WPBC as the acadamy obviously believes that the council will change their own rules on just what this land can be used for.
ah yes but we have to remember it is weymouth&weymouth borough council who could not give a stuff about portland peoples views.

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Westwindblower says...
10:04pm Wed 29 Aug 12

I wonder does anyone know what Mr or Mrs Aldridge did. Great achiever or is this more of a financial set up type situation.

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