Dr Onkar Sahota Described as ' Intransigent Landlord'

As pressure mounts for Council to compulsorily purchase his land

Ealing's Council Leader has once again been challenged over the planned expansion of St Mark's school and urged to instigate a Compulsory Purchase Order to buy the land next door.

The primary on Lower Boston Road in W7 is having to create more places by September and will have to redevelop the current site.

It was originally the intention that the adjacent plot at 42 Lower Boston Ropad, owned by Dr Onkar Sahota, the Greater London Assembly Member for Ealing and Hillingdon, should be used for the expansion but the council and Dr Sahota have failed to reach agreement over the land sale.

The vacant land

The subject came up at full council on Tuesday night during a discussion on the school development plan.

Dr Sahota who had been present for the earlier part of the meeting left before this discussion took place.

Liberal Democrat Councillor, Jon Ball, questioned Council Leader, Julian Bell, and said due to the 'intransigence' of Dr Sahota he believed the council should exercise its powers of CPO.

Councillor Ball said: '' "It is shocking that Ealing's Labour administration is utterly incapable of treating Labour London Assembly Member Onkar Sahota in the way they would treat any other uncooperative landowner. Even at this late stage, Dr Sahota should have the decency to sell his land at a reasonable price so that St Marks school can expand. If he still fails to do this, the Council must put party considerations to one side and compulsorily purchase Dr Sahota's land."

A spokesperson from Ealing Council has previously said: '' Our original preference was to purchase the site next door, but we have been unable to reach agreement with the owner. Given the need to accommodate extra pupils at the school from this September we then developed plans in liaison with the head teacher and governing body which not only include extra classrooms but also a new school hall, new kitchen and a breakfast and food technology room.

'' Securing a compulsory purchase order for any piece of land is a lengthy and complex process which would only be used when all other options had been exhausted.''

12th May 2016