CAMPAIGNERS against controversial plans to build a school on Leyton green space have called for representation at a meeting between the council and the Charity Commission.
The authority is set to meet with the Charity Commission on September 9 after it emerged it could not appropriate land on the Leyton Sports Ground to build a new school.
It will discuss plans to build on the land, which have met with fierce opposition from teachers, campaigners and local residents.
The new school would replace the George Mitchell site in Farmer Road and a school trust would be formed with Norlington School for Boys.
And Steve White, a member of the NUT and vocal campaigner against the plans, now feels those who oppose the plans should be represented at the meeting.
He said: “I would say there's got to be some kind of negotiation if there's going to be a meeting.
“There needs to be people there that are part of the opposition.”
Members of the NUT at Norlington School have already staged walk-outs over the plans, with more planned for the autumn.
Campaigners have also held protests at the Leyton Sports Ground site, as well as mounting a petition against the proposals, which they submitted to the council.
They say the plans will not benefit pupils and will have a detrimental impact on the local area.
Mr White, a teacher at Leytonstone School, added: “Other people's voices need to be heard.”
The land is currently held in trust, meaning it cannot be seized by the council under section 122 of the Local Government Act.
Section 122 allows local authorities to seize land under certain circumstances for the purposes of redevelopment.
But a spokeswoman for the Charity Commission said: “It is not an open meeting for the public.
“It will not be available for other parties to attend.”
The council said no one had approached it to request attendance at the meeting.
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