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Group fights deaf college scheme - Yorkshire Post
AN ACTION group has been formed by a group of residents opposed to plans for a £9m redevelopment of Doncaster College for the Deaf.
Those who have joined the Town Moor Action Group say the proposals, if approved by Doncaster Council's planning board, could have "a lasting negative change" on Town Moor, the neighbouring areas and the whole of Doncaster.
In April this year the college lodged a planning application for a new 32-bed hall of residence, six semi-detached student houses, a four-storey enterprise centre, a community sports hall and a new motor shop for student mechanics, to replace facilities that are currently housed in an outdated Victorian building.
The plans also include a proposal to convert the existing sports hall into a community swimming pool and build two new full-size football pitches and a sensory garden, as well as a new access road into the site off Town Moor Avenue and a new car park.
However, the plans have proved unpopular with some local residents, and an anonymous leaflet objecting to the scheme has been distributed in the neighbourhood.
Town Moor Action Group member Roger Thirlwell said: "We appreciate the college is an asset for Doncaster but we simply can't allow the plans in their current format to happen.
"Our green open spaces are a vital characteristic that provide so many people with so much pleasure, and they must be protected for future generations to enjoy."
Fellow campaigner and Town Moor resident Amanda Henwood added: "A residential and conservation area is not the most appropriate location as it will detract from the area's charm and character.
"We are trying to regenerate the town centre and there are numerous other vacant sites around and about that have been identified for employment and business purposes.
"It would be far more beneficial for Doncaster and the development of the students to have the college's plans on these fit-for-purpose sites."
However, Bobbie Roberts, the chairwoman of Doncaster Deaf Trust, said it was crucial that the college's facilities were up to standard.
She said: "As an internationally-renowned establishment we have to continually work to keep up-to-date with what is needed for deaf and hard of hearing students.
"Our courses have to reflect what is needed in the workplace so that we are providing our students with the skills to enable them to progress in their chosen career.
"All of this is planned to be developed on our existing site using our land.
"As an open organisation looking to improve the lives of deaf and hard-of-hearing people we are disappointed that someone has felt it necessary to send out an anonymous leaflet opposing our plans.
"We would welcome the chance to talk to anyone with concerns about our plans and look for ways to move this project forward and focus on the positive impact these developments will have."
The scheme's architect, Kevin Kennedy, claimed that the works were essential to bring the standard of the deaf college up to that of Doncaster's mainstream schools and colleges.
He said: "Doncaster College had the new state-of-the-art Hub building opened in 2008, but we're stuck in buildings dating back to 1901 and 1948 which are no longer fit for purpose.
"We need to bring the college up to the standard expected in mainstream education. We're also looking at suggestions and revisions which would make the proposals more acceptable for the local community."
The plans are set to be decided at a meeting of Doncaster's planning board next month.
AN ACTION group has been formed by a group of residents opposed to plans for a £9m redevelopment of Doncaster College for the Deaf.
Those who have joined the Town Moor Action Group say the proposals, if approved by Doncaster Council's planning board, could have "a lasting negative change" on Town Moor, the neighbouring areas and the whole of Doncaster.
In April this year the college lodged a planning application for a new 32-bed hall of residence, six semi-detached student houses, a four-storey enterprise centre, a community sports hall and a new motor shop for student mechanics, to replace facilities that are currently housed in an outdated Victorian building.
The plans also include a proposal to convert the existing sports hall into a community swimming pool and build two new full-size football pitches and a sensory garden, as well as a new access road into the site off Town Moor Avenue and a new car park.
However, the plans have proved unpopular with some local residents, and an anonymous leaflet objecting to the scheme has been distributed in the neighbourhood.
Town Moor Action Group member Roger Thirlwell said: "We appreciate the college is an asset for Doncaster but we simply can't allow the plans in their current format to happen.
"Our green open spaces are a vital characteristic that provide so many people with so much pleasure, and they must be protected for future generations to enjoy."
Fellow campaigner and Town Moor resident Amanda Henwood added: "A residential and conservation area is not the most appropriate location as it will detract from the area's charm and character.
"We are trying to regenerate the town centre and there are numerous other vacant sites around and about that have been identified for employment and business purposes.
"It would be far more beneficial for Doncaster and the development of the students to have the college's plans on these fit-for-purpose sites."
However, Bobbie Roberts, the chairwoman of Doncaster Deaf Trust, said it was crucial that the college's facilities were up to standard.
She said: "As an internationally-renowned establishment we have to continually work to keep up-to-date with what is needed for deaf and hard of hearing students.
"Our courses have to reflect what is needed in the workplace so that we are providing our students with the skills to enable them to progress in their chosen career.
"All of this is planned to be developed on our existing site using our land.
"As an open organisation looking to improve the lives of deaf and hard-of-hearing people we are disappointed that someone has felt it necessary to send out an anonymous leaflet opposing our plans.
"We would welcome the chance to talk to anyone with concerns about our plans and look for ways to move this project forward and focus on the positive impact these developments will have."
The scheme's architect, Kevin Kennedy, claimed that the works were essential to bring the standard of the deaf college up to that of Doncaster's mainstream schools and colleges.
He said: "Doncaster College had the new state-of-the-art Hub building opened in 2008, but we're stuck in buildings dating back to 1901 and 1948 which are no longer fit for purpose.
"We need to bring the college up to the standard expected in mainstream education. We're also looking at suggestions and revisions which would make the proposals more acceptable for the local community."
The plans are set to be decided at a meeting of Doncaster's planning board next month.