By
Craig Silver
A £26 million scheme to rehouse the Liverpool King David schools has been accepted by the city’s planning committee after councillors visited the site.
The “super school” will be built on King David’s playing fields. A kindergarten and the Harold House Jewish community centre will also move into the Childwall Road premises. Up to 25 homes will be erected on the site of the current school buildings.
King David High governors’ chair Max Steinberg welcomed the outline planning approval.
“Over the last couple of years we have worked very closely with Liverpool City Council and we look forward to starting on site early next year to deliver a fantastic new state-of-the-art facility in Childwall.”
Merseyside Jewish Representative Council president Gordon Globe said “the challenge will revolve around making these buildings thriving places of Jewish activity and learning, not only for our children but for our whole community”.
However, the decision disappointed local residents opposed to the scheme. One of them, Derek Griffiths, claimed: “I feel that this is being driven by money. All the land is going to be sold off for houses.”
Another, Sue Johnson, complained: “We do not need a community centre, and we do not need the increase in traffic.”
After visiting the site, Councillor Keith Turner, executive member for education, said: “The new King David High and Primary schools will provide a top-quality education for generations of schoolchildren and will make sure they get the best possible education in a brilliant learning environment.”
Building work is expected to be completed by the autumn of 2010.
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