Shirehampton Primary School suffers from a lack of green space where children can play games safely. However, local campaigner and Prospective MP, Charlotte Leslie has approached the Council on behalf of the school, and is working with the school and residents to secure a piece of neighbouring waste-land for school use, and at the same time improve the land for residents bordering the area.

Shirehampton Primary School has a need for green space so that its pupils can play games such as tag-rugby, and exercise without fear of injury from falling.  Charlotte Leslie has approached the Council to enquire about the feasibility of the school using a derelict piece of near-land-locked green-space near the school.

Charlotte met with Shirehampton Primary School Council and governors to discuss whether and how pupils would like to use the land. From this meeting, Shirehampton Primary School pupils composed a letter to residents, explaining their thoughts, and seeking a meeting to discuss how the land could best be used. The children’s aim was to improve the land for residents’ use, while establishing it for school use for games lessons and sports day.

Several residents attended a meeting held by the school, with a council representative present, and negotiations are now taking place about the school taking use of the council-owned land next year.

Reporting back, Charlotte Leslie said,

” If we can find a use for this piece of waste-land that improves it for neighbouring residents, and also provides Shirehampton Primary School with some much-needed green-space, we can count this a great success.

I attended a school council meeting where the children told me about their hopes for a little school vegetable garden where they can learn about fresh produce and gardening. It certainly would greatly improve these children’s school experience and I’m hopeful we can find a plan for the land which will please everybody.”