Quantock School History: Press Archive
Village's centre for refugees is vetoed
by Richard Savill
The Daily Telegraph, 10 August 2000
A BAPTIST charity is to continue with plans to convert a former boarding school into a centre for asylum seekers in a Somerset village, despite an announcement by the owners that they no longer wish to pursue the idea. The London-based Kaleidoscope project is to seek talks with the Peaster family, which owns the former Quantock School in Over Stowey, and the local council, in an attempt to find an acceptable plan.
The district council and a majority of residents have opposed the plans, arguing that the small village was too remote and unsuitable. However, the planning inspectorate granted permission on Tuesday on condition that all facilities, including a sports hall and dormitories, were maintained.
In a statement, Quantock Lodge, the school's owners, said: "Circumstances have now changed and we have decided not to continue with Kaleidoscope's proposed planning application."
The parish council chairman, Michael Lampson, said: "It is sad that the statement wasn't produced before."
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