School place protest
ANGRY parents in Muswell Hill held a meeting this week to call for action by Haringey Council to solve the crisis over school places.
A total of 45 Muswell Hill children due to start primary school in just two months have been told they will have to go to establishments outside the area some as far away as Wood Green.
A campaign group called the Muswell Hill Schools Crisis Group (MHSCG) was set up this year by Colney Hatch Lane resident Liz Crane, whose three-year-old daughter Sophie has been allocated a place at a school in Bounds Green.
She says it is important that children should go to a school within walking distance from home, for the sense of community, as well as cutting down on the number of cars on the road.
While the protest has had some limited success, with the council promising an extra reception class at Coldfall Primary School in Coldfall Avenue, Muswell Hill, from September 2005, Ms Crane wants to see more being done this year.
She said: "Haringey knew about this problem a long time ago and has done nothing.
"We welcome the expansion of Coldfall but it's not enough.
"People are starting to move out of the area because of this issue."
Ms Crane is also concerned that a large housing development in Osier Crescent will make things worse.
The MHSCG has received the support of Hornsey and Wood Green MP Barbara Roche, who said: "I think the council needs to look at what can be done for children this year."
A council spokeswoman this week said its position had not changed.
The parents' meeting was set to take place on Wednesday night at Muswell Hill Methodist Church in Pages Lane, with executive member for education, Cllr George Meehan, due to be in attendance.
12:20pm Friday 16th July 2004
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