By Amin Kef (Ranger)
Residents of Spur View Estate have united in a determined stand to protect the integrity and tranquility of their community, following attempts to convert a private residential property into a French-backed school situated in the heart of their low-density neighbourhood. The growing concern has prompted a strong, coordinated response from the homeowners, who have formally petitioned the Mayor of Freetown and the Director of Country Planning, expressing deep dissatisfaction over what they describe as a blatant disregard for zoning laws and the peace of their estate.
In what many have described as a commendable show of community solidarity, more than 30 households signed and delivered a detailed objection on 10th November 2025 to Her Worship the Mayor of Freetown, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Country Planning. The residents expressed shock that a school would be introduced into their midst without prior notification, consultation or consideration for the environmental, structural and social impact on their neighbourhood.
According to the residents, the proposed school, to be run by a would-be Proprietor, Mrs. Janice Bras, was being established with complete disregard for zoning regulations and without any form of planning or community engagement. Many property owners, including elderly residents in their seventies and eighties, argue that the project poses significant health and safety risks due to anticipated noise pollution and heavy traffic congestion. The narrow, steep internal roads of the estate, they say, cannot support the influx of vehicles and activity associated with a school.
They further noted that the property in question is boxed in between three private residences, making it an unsuitable and intrusive location for institutional activity. “This is a peaceful community. We worked all our lives to build our homes here and we deserve to enjoy the serenity of a neighbourhood that was legally designated as low-density residential,” one resident emphasized.
Residents also pointed to a worrying trend across Freetown where places of worship, factories, businesses and schools are increasingly appearing in areas not zoned for such purposes. They fear that if unregulated conversions continue unchecked, established residential enclaves in the city may lose their character, safety and property value.
The group’s concerns were formally documented in two separate letters, one addressed to Her Worship the Mayor of Freetown and another to the Director of Country Planning, Mr. Sahr Mark Kanawa, both dated 10th November 2025. The letters outline, in detail, the basis of their objection to the conversion of the residential property owned by Mr. Lesley Wilson for use by Mrs. Janice Bras as a school facility.
Among the key objections raised are:
- Violation of zoning and planning regulations, as the estate is strictly designated as a low-density residential zone.
- Inadequate infrastructure, including narrow and steep internal roads with no parking areas, drop-off points or pedestrian walkways.
- Noise pollution, with school activities expected to disrupt the calm environment valued by residents.
- Traffic congestion, particularly during school drop-off and pick-up periods.
- Environmental and sanitation concerns, with increased waste production likely to strain the existing environment.
The letters also highlighted the lack of any formal community consultation by the property owner or the intended tenant, describing this omission as a clear deviation from responsible urban planning and participatory governance principles.
The residents are now calling on the Freetown City Council and the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Country Planning to immediately halt the conversion and enforce adherence to zoning regulations. They maintain that the disputed property must remain strictly residential as originally approved by planning authorities.
The Concerned Residents of Spur View Estate say they remain confident that the relevant authorities, under strong leadership, will uphold the law, protect their rights and preserve the safety and serenity of the neighbourhood they have long called home.
Both letters were signed by The Concerned Residents of Spur View Estate, with copies forwarded to the Honourable Minister and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Country Planning.
