Squatters Evicted from Askham Road Centre in Shepherd's Bush

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Clearing the way for school for children with autism to move in

Squatters have been evicted from the Askham Road Family Centre in Shepherd's Bush, clearing the way for a special school for children with autism to move there from its current home in Fulham.

More than 30 squatters were evicted peacefully by the police and council contracted bailiffs on April 16.

The building is now set to become the new home of Queensmill School, which is currently based at Mund Street in Fulham, and is a highly respected specialist unit for autistic children.

Local Wormholt & White City Safer Neighbourhood Sergeant Rebecca Wells-Cole says: "Working in partnership with other agencies we were able to evict the squatters lawfully. This has enabled the builders to get into the property.

" The next phase will be to demolish it and to build a new school for autistic children. Having an autistic nephew, I am acutely aware of the need for such establishments, so feel happy that our work has enabled such a great project to begin."

H&F Council Leader Councillor Nicholas Botterill said: “Now that the Askham Centre has been reclaimed from the squatters, the process of transforming the old building into a specialist unit for autistic children can begin.”

Enhanced security, including guards and state of the art CCTV, is now in place on the site.

Queensmill School is set to move in to a new building on the site from September 2014. On its website, the school says:
" We are extremely excited about our new purpose-built school and are pleased to inform you that progress on completing this project continues.

" Some will have seen the plans first hand when visiting the school but below are some architects drawings of our new site

" Demolition in preparation for construction to begin is scheduled for January with the stripping of the existing building having taken place already.

" The new school will have the capacity to accommodate approximately 130 students and additional facilities that will enable us to offer some students an extended school day and respite for families.

"This site will allow the school to offer students some wonderful new on-site resources which include a wet-room; a state-of-the-art inter-active sensory room and much more which we will confirm closer to completion."

 

April 26, 2013