At last nights Town Council meeting, Oakham Town Councillors very swiftly approved
a major new planning application from Oakham School.
I am starting to believe there is some truth in the local rumour, if your Oakham School
you can do as you please when it comes to planning.
I can't work it out if it is the Masonic links enjoyed by some councillors or the fact
some County Councillors attended the school or their children do.
Some are even trustees of the school.
Cllr Joyce Lucas said "Oakham School does things nicely" and the others appeared to
agree. Less time was spent on the application and more time was spent considering the
conversion of a ladies toilet which Cllr Lucas said "I think this one is funny" Even more
time was spent on considering an application for a large garden shed. Serious issues were
raised like "are we sure the owners are not going to put granny in it"
As Oakham Town Council feel Oakham School always does a nice job I thought
I would share two of those on this post.
First the building below is listed, people with an interest in the historic appearance of
Oakham might be wonder how a listed building within the heart of Oakham's Conservation
area is now capped of with a a cheap nasty concrete tiled roof?
I can't see how the Conservation Officer has failed to notice?
Half the building still has a slate roof in-keeping with the building
and the surrounding conservation area.
The front half of the building now has very cheap nasty tiles and concrete
the sort you can purchase for around 25p each from Travis Perkins.
Of course Oakham School might say we can't match the tiles, so why
just across the road in typical Rutland County Council Planning Fashion
a small private concern rightly so, is forced to use costly tiles on a new
extension in-keeping with the surroundings of the conservation area?
This is also not a very visible location.
Then there is the constant fire risk to our castle caused by their
pupils who discard cigarette carelessly wherever they please.
Above is one example of how close the risk of fire is.
Staff at the castle say the CCTV installed has stopped the
pupils smoking on the hard stone area behind the castle.
there are the hundreds of empty packets discarded each week.
the Council Contractors only clean up once a week at this time of the year.
Looking around the Oakham School Smoking area today it was hard to
believe the contractors cleaned up yesterday.
The ashtray paid for by the School was removed some time ago.
the Castle staff pointed out the do have litter bins around the
grounds.
Maybe Oakham School could train its pupils in the art of using bins?
I collected up all I could and put them in the bin provided at the
school reception.
