Pupils' visions of the future

Nov 23 2009 By Russell Butt

PUPILS from an Egham Hythe school made posters of their visions of the borough in the future.

The pictures by the students from the Magna Carta School are on public display in the Civic Centre, Addlestone until December 4 and show how the students think Runnymede might look in 20 years' time.

Producing their visions for the future of the borough came from talks with Runnymede Council planning policy staff who visited the school in October. The children's posters have picked up themes in housing, community facilities and high streets.

The council has said using the hopes from the year 7, 9 and 10 schoolchildren about a time when they will be thirty-somethings and bringing those ideas and opinions into the Core Strategy for the future of Runnymede has been the result of a co-ordinated exercise between the school and the authority.

The Council planning staff brought to the classroom a policy document called the draft Core Strategy for the Local Development Framework. And, with help from the school’s curriculum for years 7, 9 and 10, developed activities to give students an opportunity to voice their views on what sort of Runnymede they want in the future.

The students were to consider what they want from Runnymede in the next 20 years. In groups they explored the subjects of housing, community facilities and high streets of the future. They looked into the real challenges of flooding risks and they made displays of their vision for the future.

These have earned team points for the school houses within Magna Carta and the producers of the overall best piece of work will be awarded high street vouchers.

More information about the Runnymede Core Strategy is at www.runnymede.gov.uk/planningpolicy