Not good news

[HorshamRebel]

http://www.sloughobserver.co.uk/sport/sloughtown/articles/2013/03/14/87539-exclusive-free-school-may-end-slough-towns-stadium-dream/

[A Rebel and a Saint]

I hate to be pessimistic about our club, but several things spring to mind if this is true.

Firstly I don't know about the rest of you but I'm not sure our club can survive in the long term without a ground, let alone stay at a higher level should we get promoted in the meantime. Any new site is going to require the same process (and let's face it, there aren't any other sites or they would have been looked at) and can we really survive another 5-10 years without a ground in our town?

Secondly, I know Steve Easterbrook is commited to the club and the stadium project, but is he going to be willing to commit to a club with no future if there is no other site to be found?

Really hoping this isn't true, I know the area needs schools but how can they just walk in and say that the school deserves it after all the hard work, time and money that has been put in by the Club, Council and everyone else involved over the last 5 years??

[Sir Rebel1965]

Best I dont say anything or I will get in trouble!

[Don Juan DeMarcus]

Glad to see I wasn't first to come in here. Utterly disgusting. Who's call is this?

[Sir Rebel1965]

Can someone who is cleaver with links get this elevated so that the rest of this non-leauge forum can see is what going on?

[A Rebel and a Saint]

I believe it comes from the Education Secretary (or at least his office).

From a purely teaching point of view (and I've taught in a few schools), Slough does not need a new Sikh school, it just needs schools, for everyone (though I'm sure some people will turn that comment round and make me out as a racist, but that is not the case). It is crazy that they can just 'give' the site to this school group when there is a need for education facilities for all. That of course takes nothing from the work put in by our volunteers and the council to get the plans this far, it's most of all unfair on them.

This of course also messes with St Joseph's next door who have really suffered in the last year due to a computer scam, so no benefits for them either.

[Don Juan DeMarcus]

Slough needs 3 mainstream schools. Not selective schools be it on religion, ability, race favourite pizza topping etc

Edited March 14, 2013 by Don Juan DeMarcus

[BFR]

The issue here is attorney general dominic grieve is mp for beaconsfield, including stoke poges. Imagine he's had a bit of grief from his nimby constituents about the prospect of a Sikh school ruining the village and so had a word with his mate Michael Gove to see if he could sort something out. Lo and behold a site is identified for the school and to hell with years of planning from Steve, the club, paradigm and to a lesser extent SBC.

 

Frankly I'm pretty hacked off at cllr Mann making this political. If she wants to go down this route, let's not forget it was her mob who did the deal with the thornes in 98. When I look outside my window and see britwell regeneration well under way, I wonder why things have taken so long with arbour park.

 

I can't see how SBC can resist the call to put the school on the site. We've effectively been torpedoed to appease our neighbours in the next local authority. Stinks to high hell

[Cookham Rebel]

Need to get a petition going on the main non league forum and see how many people will sign it, this is a joke and could spell the end of our ambitions!

 

We may have bite the bullet and move back to Wexham Park!

[Don Juan DeMarcus]

If the borough buy it off the thornes (unlikely) and give it to us (never gunna happen)

[staines_rebel_Jr]

surely the housing plans attached to our ground would help our cause and surely those involved with that will want to help and back us.

[Nathan]

The Sikh Educational Trust as I remember, tried to throw their spanner into the works a few years ago, without much success.

 

I do hope that our Councillor-fans will show a little backbone and tell them where to stick it! The Labour party are constantly moaning about the coalition. Time for them, to put their words into action!

[Don Juan DeMarcus]

And this comes on the day I find my council tax has increased.... Again....

[epicrebel]

And the Sikh school coaches in pupils from outside Slough as it is. Don't they still owe Slough council for the roundabout outside the school still.

[epicrebel]

How about Slough council put in a compulsory purchase order on wexham park and build a school there, sorted.

[Nathan]

As I understand it, the land will need to be released from educational use by the Secretary of State for Education, so ultimately he holds all the cards ATM.

[GarySTFC]

Will be interesting to see/hear the official club response to this news. Doesn't look promising at all, but can it be good to have three secondary schools all bordering one another? Wasn't aware of the need to have so many schools in Slough, let alone in such close proximity and definitely doesn't need any more faith schools of any type.

[staines_rebel_Jr]

Slough already has Slough grammar, Langley grammar, St Bernards, St Josephs, Beechwood, Wexham and Langley Academy. plus a few other sixth form colleges.

[staines_rebel_Jr]

apparently it might be front page news.

[brighton_rebel]

Football gives the opportunity to bring the diverse communities of Slough together. Just look at the Mansfield FA Cup game.

A religious school, and i don't care what domination doesn't.

How can it be good for society as a whole for kids of all abilities, of all races, of all financial means not to mix?

I went to Hershel and it was like the United Nations and full of working class kids from all over Slough estates.

Now 30% of the pupils don't even come from Slough.

Segregation on the basis of class and religion is not the way to breed healthy societies.

I hope the council and councillors from all political parties fight this and try and make sure it becomes the home of Slough Town, a football club that can represent the whole town, bringing massive benefits for everyone.