Controversial plans to move well-regarded Surrey primary school given green light by councillors.
A planned relocation of Reigate Priory Junior School to new purpose-built facilities at Woodhatch Place, Cockshot Hill was brought before East Surrey’s shadow cabinet this week.
Contentious plans to move a well-regarded Surrey primary school away from its current premises have been given the green light by councillors.
A planned relocation of Reigate Priory Junior School to new purpose-built facilities at Woodhatch Place, Cockshot Hill was brought before East Surrey’s shadow cabinet this week.
The shadow council, which will be responsible for East Surrey’s schools once the county council is abolished in April, was asked to authorise the move following the same decision by Surrey County Council earlier this year.
It comes following a consultation in 2024, which deemed the current school site “not fit for providing a 21st century education to its pupils”.
An officers’ report ahead of East Surrey’s executive meeting says: “Approval of the build contract for the school’s relocation to Woodhatch Place, has full planning approval, is deliverable within the most efficient timescales, supported by DfE (Department for Education) funding, and would require no temporary accommodation.”
Opening the discussion, council leader Steve Wotton (Liberal Democrats: Horley West, Salfords & Sidlow) said: “There is broad agreement, I think, that the school’s current accommodation is not fit for purpose, given the age, condition and limitations of the building.”
“The question is how best to provide a suitable teaching environment and accommodation for children.”
East Surrey cabinet members debated the merits of the move passionately, with some concerned over the location of the new school site – including the potential for increased traffic on the road, and its location further from the centre of Reigate.
Children and youth services lead councillor Ashley Tilling (Liberal Democrats: Walton South & Oatlands) was among those to speak against the proposals, saying: “There is a factor which I don’t think Surrey County Council have given due consideration to, because previously they were just concerned with the education provision.
“What we are now concerned with as East Surrey Council is the through-life costs of Reigate Priory. We will have to bear that financial cost.”
He added that, if the school is moved, “we will leave a legacy of a boarded up, looking rather ugly Grade I building – which is actually at the heart of Reigate and is one of the features that makes Reigate such an attractive place to live in”.
Councillor Tilling said he wants East Surrey to work with the Department for Education to explore other options for the Reigate Priory site.
But while he said he shares many of the concerns raised by councillors and members of the public, East Surrey’s finance lead Councillor Andy Burton (Liberal Democrats: Esher, Claygate & Oxshott North) said he could not oppose the plans due to the impact this would have on the authority’s budgets.
He said: “The reality is, a decision has been made many years ago. And like lots of decisions like this which are complex, they move forward glacially – and as they move forward, the financial binds tighten around that decision.”
And while saying he has a “lot of affinity” for many of the opposing arguments, Councillor Julian Freeman (Liberal Democrats: Ewell Village, Stoneleigh & Nonsuch) said he is “on balance” in favour of the proposals that would see a new school that would be “built to modern standards”.
The cabinet would ultimately vote through the plans, with seven members in favour and two against.
Responding to the decision, East Surrey opposition leader David Lewis (Conservative: Cobham & Oxshott South) said “This decision removes a great deal of uncertainty for parents, children and staff and will secure the necessary funding for the construction of a new, state of the art, school at Woodhatch Place.”
However, he added that he found it “regrettable” some members so strongly opposed the move, saying “the purpose of the meeting was to confirm a decision which had already been made by Surrey County Council”.
But Green group leader Councillor Jonathan Essex (Green Party: Redhill East & North Earlswood) said he believes the proposed Cockshot Hill site “in the wrong place” for a new school.
He added: “It would worsen congestion on Cockshot Hill, and increase parking difficulties and traffic emissions. There are no existing or proposed cycle access routes so more parents will be forced to drive.
“Crucially, building on high-quality urban open land – green belt equivalent – requires very special circumstances, including there being no alternative sites, which is not the case here.”