Lyme Regis: School's takeover of boys club building is rejected (From Bridport and Lyme Regis News)

Lyme Regis: School's takeover of boys club building is rejected

10:28am Thursday 17th December 2009

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THE Woodroffe School has been forced to pull out of negotiations to take over the former boys club building in Lyme Regis.

The secondary school has been in private talks with the Lyme Regis Club for Young People to lease its empty Church Street premises to provide youth facilities in the town.

But the building has been deemed unfit for purpose by officials at Dorset County Council, which would be responsible for the ongoing maintenance of the property.

It comes as anxious parents and youth workers in the town renew calls to the club trustees to meet with them and provide answers on the future of the building.

Woodroffe School headteacher Dr Richard Steward said: “I have been working with the boys club for a long time now, trying to arrange use of the building in Lyme.

“It would have been really useful for the school to use during the day and open up in the evening for youth clubs, homework clubs, and a whole range of community activities. We were making excellent progress and everything seemed to be going well. It’s very sad it’s fallen apart.

“Woodroffe is already a full service extended school but this would have been a way of enhancing our extended schools provision.”

Les Gardner, Dorset County Council’s head of integrated services said the authority was equally disappointed. He said property surveyors highlighted a number of concerns and major internal and external repairs were needed.

Mr Gardner said: “The building must be fit for purpose and fully accessible and there will need to be a significant ongoing maintenance programme put in place. Even with promises of funding from both the extended schools programme and youth service we are considerably short of the funding required.

“All of the financial risk falls to the county council and in the current economic climate it is not possible to proceed.”

The Club for Young People put the building on the market almost four years ago when the county council agreed the building was unfit for purpose.

But the sale was held up when a proposed buyer could not complete on time and this forced the club to pull out of plans to build a new purpose-built centre on land near Lyme Regis Medical Centre.

Any future sales were further held up by the restrictions of an ancient covenant, which St Michael’s Parochial Church Council – the former owners of the property – agreed to relax back in September.

Club president Ken Meech said: “Naturally we are very disappointed. The amalgamation would have been of great benefit to the youth of the town, and we saw it as an ideal way forward.

“I am sure the Woodroffe School shares our disappointment. Headmaster Dr Richard Steward and his team have been most enthusiastic.”

He added: “It is disheartening to be thwarted when all seemed to be going so well after so many setbacks. Now the trustees will be meeting to discuss the position.”

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