News - Residents launch campaign to save historic building in Arnold

RESIDENTS have launched a campaign to save one of Arnold's "few historically valuable buildings".

The Post reported last August how residents were trying to turn the former Church Drive Primary School into a community centre.

The proposal was led by Gedling Community and Voluntary Services (CVS), but due to funding cuts has now been deemed impossible.

The school, in Church Lane, closed in 2008, with pupils moving to the new Arnold Mill Primary.

An application to English Heritage for the building to be listed was turned down.

But Bob Massey, vice-chairman of Arnold Local History Group, said the school was one of only two in the country to feature a special head teacher's balcony which enabled the head to overlook the school hall and see into each classroom.

Mr Massey added: "It's one of the very few buildings left in Arnold that's of historic value.

"It was designed in the 19th century by architect William Herbert Higginbottom, who designed a lot of buildings for the community all over Nottingham, and this is one of his few buildings that's left. The school should be preserved in order to have something in his memory."

The building's owner, Notts County Council, is selling the building and the sale deadline is April 5.

The council has recognised it as a "significant undesignated heritage asset" and says buyers will be encouraged to preserve the historic aspects of the building.

But residents are disappointed that the council has not taken more drastic steps to save the building and fear it could be demolished.

Mr Massey said: "Whoever buys it, can do whatever they like with it. They could just knock it down."

Pauline Taylor, 63, of Arnold, led the campaign to turn the former school into a community centre.

But she said: "We haven't got the funding now. Gedling CVS have had their budget slashed, so they can no longer help us."

She said the group was collecting signatures for a petition to be handed into Gedling Borough Council as soon as a developer applied for planning permission.

She added: "We are ready to fight."

Conservative borough councillor Sally Mason-Kempster said the campaign to save the building had her backing as well as the support of the local arts and history group.

She said the petition had been signed by around 500 residents.

"But I think we could easily achieve 1,000," she added.

Paul Fearnley, the county council's principal surveyor, said: "The county council recognises that the former Church Drive School building is a 'significant undesignated heritage asset' and we will be working closely with our heritage building experts prior to accepting any tenders.

"We will also encourage all potential buyers to consider the viability of re-using the building."

From: http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/news/Residents-launch-campaign-save-historic-building-Arnold/article-3274913-detail/article.html