School parents step up protest

PARENTS of pupils from St Mary Magdalene's School created a noisy demonstration outside the Town Hall on February 14 in protest at plans to re-develop Nazareth House.

Following on from their protest last week in Hastings Road, the St Mary Magdalene's Parents Action Group waved banners and chanted "What do we want, safety for our children" and "When do we want it, NOW," as councillors arrived for the 9.30am planning meeting.

The protesters are demanding that safety measures are put in place before Rother planners allow Nazareth House convent to be converted into 91 flats and 18 new homes built in the grounds.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Banners were hung in the bushes around the car park and on the entrance steps. Protesters were hoping to continue a more peaceful protest in the council chamber.

Vicky Cumming-Bart, one of the organisers told the Observer: "This is a continuation of last week's protest. We are not going to rest until we get something done. We are very passionate about this."

Co-organiser Karen Austin said: "Our biggest issue is safety. What we want to do is try and get the planners to look at the safety side of the development before they make a decision.

"Nazareth House should be sold as a nursing home as it has existed, peacefully for many years."

Related topics: