Selling off sports fields to fund the rebuilding of Ashmole School should have been the hardest part.

But more than a year after councillors took the unpopular decision, not a single brick of the new building has been laid.

This week, headteacher Derrick Brown admitted negotiations over costs and legal wrangling had delayed the scheme.

At issue is the amount of money needed to rebuild the crumbling school in Cecil Road, Southgate estimated from £10million to £16million.

Selling six acres of sports fields to developer Barratt Homes will not raise enough, leaving a shortfall to be made up by Barnet Council.

"It has been frustrating, there is no doubt about that," said Mr Brown.

"To be fair to the local authority it is doing a lot of work to facilitate the project. A year ago things were more difficult but the school has made its case for redevelopment."

However, East Barnet Tory councillor Olwen Evans, who lives in nearby Summit Way, admitted few residents would shed tears at the delays. "Work has not progressed because council money has not been forthcoming," she said.

"Money in the capital programme put down for year 'x' has now been moved to year 'y', suggesting they are not 100 per cent with it at the moment."

But Councillor Alison Moore, Barnet Council's cabinet member for education, said yesterday she remained wholeheartedly behind the project.

October 31, 2001 17:51

MATTHEW NIXSON