# Summary of Downshire Hill Residents' Association Meeting
The committee has been closely monitoring developments around the proposed primary school at the Old Police Station. Representatives attended a well-attended consultation meeting in February and reported significant community concerns centring on traffic impacts, the scale of the building, and its potential effect on the area's heritage and amenity. Key discussion points included the school's plans to use the Downshire Hill entrance as the primary access point—a proposal the committee views as undesirable, preferring instead that the main entrance remain on Roslyn Hill with sympathetic adaptations for disabled access. The committee also welcomed news that the Education Funding Agency is insisting the school expand to accommodate 420 pupils rather than the initially proposed 210. Detailed architectural critiques have been prepared and submitted to the relevant consultants, raising concerns about the building's scale, material choices, and compatibility with the conservation area.
Traffic remains a central worry for residents. The committee recognises that the school's current traffic patterns—with most pupils transported by private bus—may not reflect the situation once it relocates, particularly as no private buses are planned for the new site. The narrow roads around Downshire Hill are considered unsuitable for the anticipated increase in school-run traffic, and the impact must be assessed alongside other major changes planned for the area, including the Swiss Cottage cycle superhighway. Professional traffic analysis is being considered, though this would require raising funds from the community and neighbouring streets.
An Extraordinary General Meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday 9 March at Keats Library, to which residents from adjoining streets are invited. The committee continues to address ongoing issues affecting the street, including persistent rubbish problems, with documentation being compiled for further action.