Parents in Lewisham Occupy School Roof in Protest at Closure.
Apr 25 2009 16:39
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/04/428404.html
Lewisham Bridge Primary School is a thriving community school, recently given a Grade II listing by English Heritage who have described it as having "special architectural and historic interest".
City based livery company Leathersellers wish to knock down the school and convert it into a Foundation School, something long objected to by many residents, but strongly supported by Lewisham Council.
Leathersellers have already stated that they have no wish to have a Travellers Education Service at the school, despite a large Traveller site nearby and also have no plans to incorporate a Special Needs Unit into the school.
Anger spilled over when parents began being forced to bus their children to another school over one and a half miles away whilst this historic building stands empty.
The occupiers have stated they will remain as long as is necessary and a public meeting yesterday attracted much support. Workers involved with the recent Visteon Factory Occupation in Enfield have also been down and spent time on the roof in solidarity.
Parents have asked anyone in support to come down and show solidarity and if possible to do a shift on the roof. A further meeting is due to be held outside the school on Monday 27th April at 3pm.
The details are on this facebook group:
and the background is on this blog:
Messages of support can be put on the facebook group or sent to handsofflewishambridge@yahoo.co.uk
Someone from SLSF spent the night there on Friday. The atmosphere was good and they were joined later on by others. In the morning a neighbour baked bread for them. So it's pretty popular at the moment.
For those of you who know what goes on in Lewisham's secondary education sector, the joke is that all the secondary schools in the north of the borough will soon be controlled by one or other of the City livery companies (feudal hangovers from the City of London). Haberdashers control the selective Askes schools (and now Monson primary); Goldsmiths are making a bid for the 2 secondaries in Deptford and now the Lethersellers will come in and link up with the new school, Crofton and Prendergast.
Am seeing a governor from Lewisham Bridge tomorrow so will try and glean any more inside info. The travellers' site is in the process of moving, BTW, but if the Leathersellers really have said they will refuse travellers' children, I suspect they've broken the law relating to race discrimination. Just because anti-traveller racism is acceptable in many parts of society, it doesn't mean it's right or indeed legal.
Regards,
Martin