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School Nook

RETAIN THE HERITAGE OF LEA BRIDGE:

SAVE THE OLD SCHOOL HOUSE!

It has come to light that an application has been put forward to...
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RETAIN THE HERITAGE OF LEA BRIDGE:

SAVE THE OLD SCHOOL HOUSE!

It has come to light that an application has been put forward to turn the old school house at 146a Lea Bridge Road (adjacent to the Princess of Wales pub) into a block of flats.

The old schoolhouse has key historical significance in the area and alternative plans exist to retain its architectural and historical value by transforming it into a museum.

The plans for flats, whilst not fully articulated, will almost certainly be to the detriment rather than the enhancement of the area.

You only need to look across the road to Essex Wharf to see quite how ugly, inappropriate and undesirable blocks of flats can be.

to complain follow the link at the bottom and cut and past this into the comments

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I object to the planning application for flats on the following grounds

1) Historical significance
This is a building of great local interest and heritage value. Built in 1846, the school was used to teach factory and dock workers’ children as well as the barge children passing through the area via the Lea river, at that time a bustling industrial area. Travellers also used to frequent the area for blessings of their children and handfasting.

This Victorian school and grade II listed building is one of the few remaining buildings existing from a time when Lea Bridge was home to a glass factory, boat builders (with dressing rooms and club rooms), a carbonic acid gas factory, an India rubber works, and cottages, as well as the Ship Aground Beer House.

2) Alternative plans to preserve Lea Bridge heritage
Plans exist to retain the architectural and historic value of the site. Clapton Arts Trust, which formed to save the Tram Sheds on Upper Clapton Road have been in the process of seeking funding in order to transform the building into a heritage museum. In conjunction with the Museum of London and the University of East London, this local group wish to restore the space to resemble a “living” Victorian classroom and to host exhibitions and heritage displays.

3) Community value
Far greater community value will be gained from restoring this beautiful building than allowing it to be knocked down in order to build featureless high-rise flats for private accommodation. The plans by Clapton Arts Trust involve utilising the space for adult education art, craft and music workshops in the evening, including on a Victorian theme.

Although little can be deciphered from the sparse information about the flats proposals, it is certain that the community will gain far less from the construction of yet more flats than from a true community initiative that seeks to preserve our heritage and the beauty of the area for future generations.

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(see: Listed Building Consent Application No: 2013-1894, http:-- 17ZS8kH)

For more info, see http:--www.leabridge.org.uk-
For more info on the arts trust, see http:--www.claptonartstrust.org-

For present plans, see Design Planning Application No: 2013-2118, http:-- 15CsiTK
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