School’s £40k for fence ‘scandalous waste of money’
Councillor attacks outlay on security measure
A Maidstone school’s decision to spend £40,000 on a fence has been branded a “scandalous waste of money”.
A black metal fence, standing at 5ft 9ins (1.8m), was put up along the perimeter of the Oakwood Park Playing fields in March to the dismay of neighbours.
Maidstone borough councillor and Labour group leader Paul Harper labelled the spend “ludicrous”.
He said: “I was at a meeting a while ago with the school and I thought they said it was £20,000, which is still a lot of money.”
Cllr Harper has hatched a plan to have the playing fields identified as a town green in the hope the fence can be removed.
He says St Augustine Academy could have saved £40,000 just by speaking to people near the Oakwood Road site.
Cllr Harper, who represents Fant Ward, said: “To spend £40,000 on a fence that is not necessary is absolutely appalling.
“They fenced in St Simon Stock School and added other bits of fence over the years so we must be talking about hundreds of thousands of pounds.
“The money spent on that fence is a scandalous waste of money.”
Figures obtained show £39,862 was paid by the Woodard Academies Trust, which runs St Augustine Academy, in order to put up the fence.
A further £137.50 was paid for pre-planning advice and an application for a lawful development certificate after the school aimed to put an end to antisocial behaviour and dog fouling.
Jason Feldwick, principal at St Augustine Academy, said: “The Woodard Academies Trust, which runs St Augustine Academy, has a 125-year lease from Kent County Council for the area of land in question.
“The need for a fence was twofold; I have a statutory duty to safeguard staff and the students, and it was also necessary to reduce litter, dog excrement, damage and graffiti on school property.
“Funding for the fence was part of a capital grant from the trust, and so it is both lawful development and wholly appropriate that the money has been spent this way.”
Melanie McNeir, public right-ofway and commons registration officer for Kent County Council, said a decision on the town green application will be made later this year.
The Woodard Academies Trust has been contacted for a comment.