Concerns over bright lights on Broadstairs school building

Concerns over bright lights on gym building at Upton Junior School in Broadstairs

Transcript

00:00It's the sport hall that's exercising neighbours' patience.

00:03These lights surrounding this primary school and broad stairs are needed to meet building

00:08regulations. Residents surrounding the building are objecting to Upton Junior's bid to try and

00:13keep these lights on for longer. In the household opposite, their bedroom is some 50 metres away.

00:19Linda believes they shouldn't be this bright.

00:23Blackpool Illuminations, that's how I describe it.

00:27Even when I have the curtains drawn, round the edge of the curtains, you can see it.

00:33They're very bright and totally unnecessary. When they're not on, there are green lights,

00:40you can still see what it is, but they're not bright.

00:44If a school is successful at the next planning meeting,

00:47it'll mean they can stay until 10pm on school nights.

00:51Currently, they're meant to be turned off when the centre is not in use.

00:55But a school says the agreement is problematic with community group hire,

01:00saying they can't expect them to leave and arrive in the dark.

01:03Upton Junior says motion sensors wouldn't be possible,

01:06as a car park for swimming pool users would be in their range.

01:10But this still hasn't left neighbours happy. They say they understand the need,

01:15but their issue is the school just doesn't communicate with them.

01:19We understand it's a school, and it was a school when we moved here, so we accept that.

01:24We accept the parking problems that there are in this street, but at the same time,

01:30we do feel that they are neighbours in the same way that I'm my neighbour,

01:33the Levens are my neighbour, and so on. And we just think it's time the school

01:39took us into account, instead of just going off like some sort of banana republic,

01:44doing what they feel like.

01:45In a statement, the school told us they're committed to engage fully in

01:48ongoing discussions about any subsequent issues raised,

01:52and that their major concern is for the safety of our children

01:54and other community users of the sports hall.

01:57The issue has previously been deferred by Fennett District Council's Planning Committee

02:01with concerns over the amount of light and the need.

02:04Officers are recommending approval, and tonight, councillors will make the final decision.

02:09Gabriel Morris in Broadstairs.