POLICE concerns over ‘sufficient security and safety against intruders’ for children has prompted one Berkshire school to erect new gates and fences to better protect pupils.

TVP officer Daniel Colyer said that intruders could ‘easily gain access’ to the grounds or ‘remove pupils’ from Wescott Infant School on Wescott Road due to the ‘inadequate fencing’ in place. 

The school has now been granted permission by Wokingham Borough Council to install a new two-metre high combi welded-mesh panel fence, designed to prevent climbing attempts by trespassers.  

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It will replace the 1.2-metre high metal picket fencing to the southern boundary along Goodchild Road and continue part way along the south-western boundary. 

Officer Colyer highlighted several incidents of “empty bottles, smoking paraphernalia and other items” being thrown into the school, as well as “evidence of intruders gaining access” to the grounds outside of school hours. 

Resident Simon Armstrong, who has shared a boundary with Westcott’s Infant School for 25 years, rebuked the TVP officer’s findings, questioning if a child had ever been removed from the site and stated he was “unaware” of any issues during the time he has lived there. 

The school was required to seek planning permission for the proposed changes as it has been designated a Grade II listed building by English Heritage since 1998. The adjacent school annexe, which houses the nursery, is also Grade II listed.    

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Wokingham Town Council was against the plan despite “understanding the safeguarding issues”. It objected to the new fencing under the grounds that it “is not in keeping with a heritage site”. 

The Planning Officer at the Wokingham Society, Mrs Hazel Guile, said the charity “accept and welcome” the need for more security at the school but called the proposed changes “visually disappointing” for a Listed Building. 

“For consideration it is suggested that the existing open metal fencing height might be raised,” she added. 

Wescott Infant School caters for children from ages four to seven and has approximately 150 children on roll each year, with a private day nursery located within the area of the playground.  

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Before 2020 the school was a community school administered by Wokingham Borough Council. It now has Academy status and is sponsored by the Circle Trust – a charity which oversees some schools in Wokingham.   

The plan was submitted by the chief financial officer at The Circle Trust, Deborah Briault. 

The new fence will incorporate security-controlled vehicle access gates, having both security control technology and mechanical opening devices, as well as a single self-closing pedestrian gate fitted with security control technology.