RESIDENTS have expressed concerns about proposals to turn a Mill Hill garden centre into a new Jewish free school.

At Tuesday’s Hendon Residents Forum a call was made for a “proper consultation” regarding founders of Etz Chaim school wanting to take over Wyevale Garden Centre in Daws Lane.

In order for the site to be used as a school, planning permission for change of use and alterations is required from Barnet Council.

If the plan is successful the garden centre would hand over its lease to the school and permission given for variations such as playing music, floodlights and hours of use.

Over 80 people attended the forum where residents shared fears the proposed plan would increase traffic in the area.

One resident said the garden centre, which used to be a public swimming pool, is a “fantastic local amenity used by all the community” and a school would “only benefit a part of that community”.

It is scheduled to be one of the first free schools to open in September under the Government's Partnership for Schools programme.

As a free school it could set its own pay and conditions for staff, change the lengths of its terms and school days and have freedom from following the National Curriculum.

Councillor Darrel Yawitch, assistant cabinet member for health said there is a shortage of primary school places across the borough.

However, one resident said there are available spaces for children in this area.

Vice chairman of Middlesex Cricket Board, Ian Sutherland said: “When my great uncle, as mayor of Hendon, opened the swimming pool in Daws Lane it was to benefit the people of Hendon with a recreational facility, forever.”

He agreed a school would not benefit the whole community and it would cause traffic congestion in the area.

Ex Hendon MP Andrew Dismore said: “It is a scandalous disgrace the way the council is dealing with this.

“There has been a complete lack of consultation with the local community.

“To be honest I don’t know if this is a good idea or not but that is exactly why we need to have a proper consultation before the planning meeting to identify potential problems and to see if these problems can be resolved.”

Etz Chaim school has said it will hold a public meeting in the Mill Hill area.

For more details about this meeting visit www.etzchaim-primaryschool.org.uk, email info@etzchaim-primaryschool.org.uk or contact 07530 494 500.