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COUNCILLORS will make a site visit before deciding whether to approve a 2.4m (7ft 8in) high boundary fence around Gillotts School in Henley.
Members of South Oxfordshire District Council’s planning committee are expected to come before their next meeting on January 11.
It follows a request by Councillor Stefan Gawrysiak, who represents Henley on the council and has criticised the school’s application for permission to erect a wire mesh fence.
The secondary academy in Gillotts Lane says the fence would prevent “intruders” accessing the site.
But Cllr Gawrysiak, who taught at the school for 30 years and became deputy head, said it would be “prison-like” and would harm wildlife.
He said that if the fence was necessary it should be moved back to protect just the school buildings rather than the grounds.
Cllr Gawrysiak said: “I think it’s good that councillors come and look at the site to assess all the aspects of this application.
“I am on the planning committee, so I haven’t made any decision on this application. All I am doing is pointing out what, in my opinion, the flaws are.”
He said having the fence by a section of parkland to the north of the school could lead to the destruction of wildlife corridors.
He said: “There are badgers there. Where are they going to roam? Where are the hedgehogs going to roam? Where are the deer going to cross the parkland of the school and foxes too?
“We are being encouraged to secure wildlife corridors in the environment and obviously a 2.4m high wire mesh fence does not afford wildlife corridors. The other aspect is it is very close to the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.”
Cllr Gawrysiak said the fence would hinder views of the parkland, which is a designated green space in the joint Henley and Harpsden neighbourhood plan.
He said: “In other words, it is an amenity for all people in Henley to look at. It is Gillotts School’s property but when we walk along the path [running parallel to Makins Road] we can see it.
“If this fence is installed, we would have to look at it through wire mesh. This should not be allowed in a rural setting.”
Cllr Gawrysiak also claimed that having fencing along the path would leave pedestrians at risk and cited the case of a girl who was sexually assaulted while walking along a footpath running from Tilebarn Close to Paradise Road on November 15.
He said: “With this particular corridor, you have got wooden fencing that is 6ft on one side and on the other there would 7ft of wire mesh fencing for 550 metres.
“Any pedestrians going along this particular corridor would be in danger because there is no escape — no escape from cyclists travelling too fast or other potential dangers.”
Cllr Gawrysiak said he understood the school’s reasons for wanting the fence but he felt the plans should be revised.
He said: “I’m well aware of the stresses and strains of keeping children safe but with my 30 years of experience, I certainly don’t think the fence is necessary and, if it is deemed necessary, then put it closer to the building.
“In my opinion, the fence should be moved to be round the curtilage of the hardstanding of the school. It shouldn’t come out this far and it should not be 2.4m high.
“If it was around the hardstanding of the school then it would provide all the security that they need.”
Three years ago, the school sought permission for a 6ft 6in (1.98m) fence but the council did not make a decision on the application.
The school would not need planning permission for a 2m high fence as that would fall under permitted development rights.
The school says the proposed fence is based on guidance from the Department for Education and insurers.
Headteacher Catharine Darnton said: “Our first responsibility as a school is to keep our students safe — a perimeter fence supports this by preventing intruders accessing the site and preventing students leaving the site during the day.
“We have experienced numerous incidents of intruders on the site over the years, some of which have included criminal activity.
“The design is transparent mesh so as not to be a visual barrier. We have taken on board the planning officer’s recommendations regarding the appearance of the site, hence are proposing to set the fence back on the south-west and west boundaries.”
She said surveys had shown that the fence could be erected “without the loss of any significant trees or priority habitats” and the school would abide by any tree preservation orders.
Ms Darnton added: “The council’s ecologist has raised no objections to the scheme, stating ‘surveys have concluded that impacts on protected species are unlikely’.
“Gaps under the fence will be installed every 10m to enable badgers and hedgehogs to move freely.”
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