Published on:
26
March 2008
Children at Sunnyside Primary School are hoping that pupil power will help them to win their campaign to enhance their playground.
The Pupil Council and the Eco Committee have joined forced with teachers and the Parent Council in a bid to acquire the grassed area next door to the school which would be used during PE lessons.
The grassed area is a surplus green at Alloa Co-operative Bowling Club and in August 2006 the Council agreed to buy the land for the purpose of providing a grassed area for Sunnyside pupils.
When the Bowling Club bought the land from the Co-operative in 1996, the Co-op included the right to buy back the land in the event that the club wanted to sell the land. The Co-op is exercising that right, which has so far thwarted the Council's efforts to buy the land on behalf of the school.
Sunnyside's Pupil Council is made up of two elected members from each of the classes P4 - 7, while the Eco Committee is composed of elected members from every year in the school.
Margaret Whiteley, Depute Headteacher at Sunnyside, said: "The pupils of Sunnyside are very aware that most primary schools have access to a grassed playing field and are anxious to have a similar facility for themselves. This would greatly enhance the lifestyle and learning experiences of the pupils of the school. The pupils have written to both the Co-op and the Council to ask what is happening and to find out what the next stage is. These pupils are keen to work
together with all interested parties for the benefit of all Sunnyside pupils and will be reporting back on their findings."
The Council's Head of Property Services Gordon Stewart is meeting the Pupil Council and Eco Committee members this week to explain the reasons behind the hold-up and to advise on a way forward.
Gordon said: "I totally understand the pupils' frustration at not having access to this grassed area - the Council is happy to buy it, the Bowling Club wants to sell it and the pupils desperately want to use it, but the Co-operative is exercising their right of pre-emption which has blocked any progress so far. We have written to Co-op headquarters in Manchester many times and will continue to do so in an attempt to bring this to a conclusion. Sunnyside's pupils have stated their case to me most clearly and I hope their argument will be heard by the Co-op."
There will be a photo opportunity involving the members of the Pupil Council and Eco Committee at Sunnyside Primary School at 11.15am on Friday 28th March 2008.