New Notre Dame and Saint Anne’s schools take step forward

Around 1,000 pupils will be accommodated into the facility which will include the hotly-debated Adventure Playground, a communal gymnasium and a 200-space Gibraltar Government-owned car park.

The main concerns within the commission were on the incorporation of renewable energy, green areas, noise pollution and general access to the schools, which are in a very busy area.

David Orfila, Managing Director for Orfila Architects, walked the commission through the proposal which showed an area split into five zones within an enclosed area that is limited in space.

The developer discussed the potential school drop-off points, with the main entrance via a staircase on Winston Churchill Avenue and a second within the car park.

“There is a lot of traffic along this route, so the logical thing is to raise the platform of the gymnasium for the second drop-off point,” Mr Orfila told the commission.

St Anne’s and Notre Dame schools will stand at three and two storeys high respectively and will incorporate 15 accessibility ramps.

The roofs of both schools will be used as green playing areas and the developer confirmed that no existing green areas will be removed.

Janet Howitt from the Environmental Safety Group questioned the developer on whether renewable energy and more greenery would be introduced.

Environmental Minister Dr John Cortes intervened as it was a Government project to put forward the case of limited space in the area to incorporate more solar panels.

“Solar panels and renewable systems have been looked at but the issue is a lack of space,” he said. “Some of the play areas restrict the number of panels that we can install. I will also add that we have worked closely with the Education Department and head teachers. The Laguna Youth Club will be located at the South of the car park.”

Carl Viagas raised the issue of sound control within the school, considering it will be located in a noisy area.

“If windows are closed because of noise pollution, then air conditioning will likely be used,” he said. “I’m concerned about that.”

The commission decided that more information was required in certain areas such as entrance and exit points, sustainable traffic in the area and a renewable energy assessment.

25-01-18 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR