Royal Park School should be handed over to the local community (Leeds Liberal Democrats)

Leeds Liberal Democrats <info@leedslibdems.org.uk>

Royal Park School should be handed over to the local community

November 11, 2011 9:03 PM

Cllrs Jamie Matthews and Martin Hamilton (Lib Dem, Headingley) have today called for the old Royal Park School in Hyde Park to be handed over to the 'Royal Park Community Consortium' (RPCC). This follows news that they have been unsuccessful in raising the funds to carry out a full refurbishment of the building.

Cllr Matthews said : "While it is obviously very disappointing that the RPCC has been unable to raise the £2.6 million they needed for the full project, they have shown that they can carry out improvements by using the skills and talent that exist in the local community - it was only when RPCC organised their occupation that any effective work was carried out to maintain the building."

He continued "At the most recent meeting of the Inner North West Area Committee I moved a motion that we should ask the Council to hand over the building to the RPCC. It was supported unanimously. We know that raising funds will be hard work but I am convinced the consortium has the drive and belief to make a success of the building."

Cllr Hamilton added :- "The building has been empty for years now. Plans for it be used for flats for older people fell by the wayside when the economic crisis hit, and everyone knows that the building would raise very little cash on the open market, which is why the Council should use its powers to transfer the building into community ownership."