Two New Schools Planned for Walsall Amid Mixed Reactions from Locals
Walsall is set to get two new schools, but not everyone is happy about it
Walsall, Schools, Education, Valerie Vaz, Sneyd Community School
Walsall: The Department for Education wants to build two new schools. One will be a secondary school with 1,100 spaces. The other will be a special educational needs (SEN) school for 300 students aged three to 19.
They haven’t decided on a location yet. However, Reedswood Park is a possible site for the secondary school. Both schools will be free schools, funded directly by the government.
MP Valerie Vaz is not happy about the plan for Reedswood Park. She says it would destroy woodland created to celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee.
Vaz suggests using the empty Sneyd Community School instead. She believes it’s a good option and would save taxpayers money.
But Walsall Council leader Garry Perry disagrees. He says the old school needs a lot of work to be usable again. The Department for Education hasn’t confirmed if they considered the Sneyd Community School.
More than 1,400 people have signed a petition to save the Vernon Way school from demolition. They want it to be used again.
Former councillor Chris Jones also opposes the Reedswood Park site. He believes the woodland is a better tribute to the late Queen than the corgi statues in Walsall Arboretum.
Walsall Council has applied to demolish the Sneyd Community School and build 73 homes instead. This school is on green belt land near Rough Wood Country Park.
Garry Perry stated that any development on green belt land would not be approved under his leadership. The decision on the planning application is now expected by March 14, 2025.