Welwyn Garden City: New windows for school after 30 years

Templewood Primary School is a post-war Grade II* listed building and still has its original single-glazed windows – which have led to a £45,000 a year energy bill and pupils being forced to wear coats in winter because it is so cold.

But that is set to change after councillors went against a recommendation that they refuse permission for new heritage windows and doors at a packed Development Management Committee meeting yesterday (Thursday, September 12).

A Templewood Primary School pupil outside the council meeting (Image: Christopher Day)A crowd of children, parents, teachers and school governors turned up to the meeting to show their support, with many having to stand to watch the debate.

Council officers had deemed the development “would materially harm the significance and character” of the building and said “public benefits to outweigh the identified harm do not exist”.

Historic England described the school as “an innovative and influential example of a 20th-century school building”, and said the original windows “are part of the design and interest” of the building. A previous application to replace them was rejected in 2014.

A Templewood Primary School pupil outside the council meeting (Image: Christopher Day) Both Historic England and the council’s heritage consultant expressed concerns about the proposal but agreed only “less than substantial” harm would be caused by the changes in the windows.

Councillors were told that Martin Cherry, who listed the building in the 1990s, said the plans “would be acceptable” and opposed alternative options such as installing secondary glazing.

But, despite the school specifying that Crittall W20 windows would be used, concerns were raised about a lack of information, such as window-by-window measurements. A planning officer said if that information had “been present we might have been in a different position”.

A sign made by Templewood Primary School campaigners. (Image: Christopher Day) Councillors disagreed with the view taken by officers and unanimously voted to grant consent.

Headteacher Katherine Martindill invited councillors to “imagine trying to concentrate when the classroom is freezing cold in winter, forcing you to wear a coat indoors, or sweltering hot in the summer, making it almost impossible to focus”.

“This is the reality for our children, some as young as four years old.

She said the emergency exit doors to be replaced were identified as a “significant” health and safety risk as far back as 2012.

And Ms Martindill warned the “future of Templewood is currently uncertain” due to the high energy costs. She said they are in the highest 2.2 per cent of costs among similar schools nationally.

Cllr Lucy Musk (Lab, Haldens) suggested the council was in danger of “putting the importance of the building above the importance of children”.

She worried the school would end up as a “crumbling building because we’ve put the type of windows … above the needs of the children, parents and teachers.

“Never mind it [being] a school, not a museum – it’s going to be a mausoleum,” she added.

Windows at Templewood Primary School in Welwyn Garden City (Image: Carbon Engineering/Templewood Governors) Cllr Roger Trigg (Con, Welwyn East) and Cllr Barbara Fitzsimon (Con, Northaw and Cuffley) said they were “shocked” at the state of the windows when they visited, and Cllr Fitzsimon added it was “totally unacceptable” children had to wear coats in classrooms.

Cllr Jill Weston (Lab, Howlands) described the decision as “common sense”, while Cllr Helena Goldwater (LD, Hatfield South West) raised fears that “old windows can create respiratory issues or make them worse, and will probably increase school absences”.

Windows at Templewood Primary School in Welwyn Garden City (Image: Carbon Engineering/Templewood Governors)

Only one councillor, Cllr Anthony Skottowe (LD, Handside), initially voted in favour of the officers’ recommendation.

He supported the principle of replacing the windows and said HCC’s care of the building was “frankly a disgrace”, but raised concerns about whether there was a valid legal reason to go against the recommendation. Cllr Skottowe said he was “appalled” by the lack of information in the application.

It is a condition of the listed building consent that detailed plans for the windows are submitted before work can begin.

After the decision was made, Hillary Skoczylas, Chair of Governors at Templewood, told BBC Three Counties Radio: “We are extremely thrilled.

“We hoped … common sense would prevail, but you’re never quite sure.

“To get unanimous consent was absolutely amazing.”

Hertfordshire County Council have been contacted for comment.