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  • "Very sorry to hear your comments jayjoe.It seems you have forgotten the SIZE of the Hindu population and their needs for a school of this type.Harrow has the LARGEST HINDU POPULATIONIN THE WHOLE OF EUROPE. They have contributed most generously not just to our economy but also to the local community in numerous ways.There is still a feasibility study in the pipe-line.Hold your horses!Let's not jump the gun and stir up the locals, using red herrings.

    The Avanti School is second to none.They have already encountered inconvenience and difficulties last year and desperately need to provide a good ,solid base for the educational and development needs for these children to thrive in.Naturally ,parents and children wishing to study in this renowned institution are thrilled at the prospect of its opening in Stanmore.

    How can you say that the needs of the many are being side-lined for the few without considering the huge deficit of school places we have.?The Hindus of Harrow contribute just as much as any other tax-payer and deserve a fair deal.

    I am delighted the Headteacher Gareth Jones has approved of the beautiful site.Frankly,Council
    lor Hall should be thanked profusely for making it possible for this to be a serious buliding site for the Avanti School..She was criticised not so long back for raising objections on behalf of some local residents when it was based in the Teacher's Centre in Tudor Road.

    It seems one cannot please all sections of the public at the same time.So,one has a duty to try and please most of the people and do what is in the best interests of all.Oh, might I remind you also this is not a "GOVE" school but the Krishna AVANTI School,run by Hindus.Let's not mislead the man on the street with political digs which serve no useful purpose!

    In view of the excellent facilities and extensive refurbishment of our LEISURE CENTRE which was recently re-opened last week we have more than adequate provision for anybody to make good use of the fantastic range of sports,exercise and recreational facilities.

    This was not the case when Harrow Council made a decision in 2010 to allow the land sited above to be developed into a sports complex and leisure facility.Harrow has moved forward considerably since!

    Please let us ALL have a voice in what happens in Harrow and remember that EDUCATION is the most important and lasting legacy which is the right of every single child ----including the Hindus."
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Possible site for Avanti House School in Whitchurch Playing Fields 'extremely attractive' says headteacher

Possible school site 'extremely attractive' says headteacher

Possible school site 'extremely attractive' says headteacher

First published in News
Last updated Harrow Times: Photograph of the Author by , Senior Reporter

The headteacher of a Hindu school hoping to secure a permanent home on a set of playing fields says it is an “extremely attractive site and ideally located”.

Avanti House School has announced it has identified Whitchurch Playing Fields, in Wemborough Road, Stanmore as a possible new home.

Harrow Borough Council says it will now be carrying out a feasibility study of the site.

Avanti House headteacher Gareth Jones, said: “This is an extremely attractive site and ideally located.

“We are looking forward to the opportunity to develop it as a school and as a wonderful resource for the community.

“We do of course recognise that this is just the beginning of the process and that everything depends on the outcome of the feasibility study.

“However, this will come as very welcome news to our students, to our loyal parents."

Avanti Schools Trust chief executive Nitesh Gor said: “We are very grateful to the council, and specifically to Councillor Susan Hall, for making our school a priority.

“We know that Harrow residents value our schools and it is good to see that this is being recognised by the Council.”

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Cllr Hall said: “There is a pressing need for more school places in Harrow and a lack of suitable land for development.

“We have worked closely with the Avanti Schools Trust, which already has a strong and indeed unique track record in Harrow serving our significant Hindu community.”

In 2012 Harrow Council's then Labour administration gave its backing to the Whitchurch Consortium's plans to build a new sports complex and leisure facility on the site.

The proposals to develop the fields have been controversial with people living nearby who launched a campaighn to turn the fields into a village green.

Cllr Hall said: "We have a duty to look at the Whitchurch site again in view of the educational use of the land that came to light during the issues over possible use as a village green, and the development option put forward by the Whitchurch consortium.

“We appreciate the consortium has put significant effort into its proposals.”

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