Holy Cross - latest proposals

You may get some emotive replies on this one. I didn't have anyone at the school myself, but parents who did tell me the Swiss order of nuns running it decided suddenly to shut down and retreat to Switzerland (I know others will correct me if I'm wrong). They apparently sold off the site at a significant profit to developers. One mother told me her daughters came home at end of Christmas term with a letter saying 'we're now closed, you'll need to send your daughters elsewhere from early January'. This prompted a panic, as it is almost impossible to find places just days before the new term starts. One outraged parent allegedly saw the Mother superior in the street and threw a tin of paint over her. One of the teachers at the school confirmed to me they'd been taken by surprise at the decsion as much as the parents and pupils had. By all accounts however, it was a very good school with happy pupils. Tough luck on those about to take crucial exams.

Thanks. Very interesting to know some of the history. I have met one of the nuns still living in the new accommodation but clearly didn't ask!!

I understand that the descision to close the school was due to a number of factors.it was a descision that was not in the hands of the nuns who were still at the convent i knew someone who worked there at the time of its closure and the parents of children were given 2 1/2 terms notice. As for the buses we would have these whether they are picking children up to go to other schools or to drop them off for a school in chalfont. I dont actually see the difference between a new school or chalfont academy taking over the site the numbers of children going to the school will be dictated by the size of the site and anything else they decide to build there.

Does anyone know what the latest is with the propposed development?

Yorkie wrote: Does anyone know what the latest is with the propposed development?

CHALFONT
ST PETER PARISH COUNCIL GRANTED PERMISSION FOR JUDICIAL REVIEW OF HOLY CROSS PLANNING
PERMISSION IN THE HIGH COURT

Chalfont St Peter Parish
Council has been granted leave to continue to a full Judicial Review in
relation to the much disputed planning application put in by the Sisters of the
Holy Cross at the site of the old Holy Cross Convent in Chalfont St. Peter. At two hearings in March, at the Royal Courts in London, representatives of both
Chiltern District Council and Chalfont St. Peter Parish Council put forward arguments which were considered by Mr. Justice Ockelton. On the 13^th of April
2012 he gave his Judgement which supported Chalfont St. Peter Parish Council's claim that the Holy Cross planning permission should be examined by a higher court. A date for the Judicial Review is not expected until later this year.

Chalfont St Peter Parish Council allege that Chiltern District Council failed to
consider and uphold its own policy to protect educational land in the Village
when they passed planning permission in August 2010 for 198 dwellings and a
care home on the site. The Parish Council has always argued that there should
be a broader perspective of the issues that should pay proper consideration to
moving the overcrowded Church of England Academy School to the Holy Cross site along with other developments that would help relieve many of the current
planning constraints in Chalfont St Peter.

In addition to the Judicial Review Chalfont St Peter Parish Council are also challenging The District Council's Core Strategy which they allege also fails to properly grapple with the educational issues in the area. Vice Chairman Cllr Richard Allen who has been coordinating both legal challenges said "Almost every concern we raised earlier in the planning process was ignored.
At various stages we highlighted the fact that the Holy Cross site was a
once in a lifetime opportunity to redesign Chalfont St Peter. Rather than just
dump uniform development in one site we�d like to see the educational use
retained and incorporated into a well planned development that takes into
account the present and long term future needs of the community. This perfectly reasonable approach has been ignored by Chiltern District Council's planners leaving us with no other option but to take legal action".