EastSheenMatters will be avoiding politicking over the next fortnight until the local elections on 7 May, Other than to encourage voting! But there is one issue which must be addressed: the Stag Brewery.

Let’s look at the facts in relation to a site, in respect of which there were lengthy hearings eighteen months ago and the Inspector’s decision granting planning permissions published twelve months ago.

In respect of one of those permissions we now know that there will not be central Government funding for a secondary school. It is safe to assume that there will not be funding from elsewhere. Even ignoring the question whether a 1200 pupil school was needed giving falling rolls, that size of school was in any event too large for the available footprint. The traffic problems should also have dictated that the site was not suitable.

The decision contained obscure provisions for what might happen in the event that the secondary school did not go ahead, but there is no evidence that they have been acted upon.

Clear conclusion: No secondary school. But no-one wants a brown field site lying empty.

The only option under discussion. as far as we know, is a transfer of Thomson House School, a primary school, from Sheen Lane and Vernon Road. The Council is silent on the issue, saying only that the school is free to have dicussions with the developers.

From a planning point of view there is no reason why the other planning permission in respect of residential units should not be acted upon. But a year on the public has not been made aware of any progress. All that we have been told is that Reselton Properties would like to sell the site or at least obtain co-funders. But rumours seeping out of Malaysia suggest that backers may not be happy even with co-funding. It is hardly surprising given that a substantial part of the evidence at the Inquiry related to the economic difficulties created by having bought at a high price with development costs having rocketed since then.

The film studio on the site has produced two series of 1000 Blows, a part of the Disney portfolio. Would they be interested in expanding that usage?

Local residents must be better consulted on local development than hitherto. So a question for all your candidates. What should happen on this site. And ‘wait and see’ won’t wash.