News - History buffs back plan for old school (Arnold )

HISTORY enthusiasts have welcomed a decision to keep a former school building in Arnold unchanged despite a proposed redevelopment.


The former Church Drive Primary School, in Church Lane, was due to be sold off by Notts County Council last spring.

At the time, members of the Arnold History Group raised fears the building could be knocked down or significantly changed by its buyer.

But the council drew up an agreement that said that any new buyer would have to keep the building unchanged for at least ten years.

Arnold developer Aldergate Properties, which bought the former school for £225,000 last November, now wants to turn it into a business and community enterprise centre.

Bob Massey, vice-chairman of the history group, said: "It is a great relief that the building should be retained, because it has a great historical interest.

"It is also useful that it will be used by the community."

He said the building was designed in the 19th century by architect William Herbert Higginbottom, who had a hand in community buildings across Nottingham.

"This is one of his few buildings that's left," Mr Massey added.

John Ward, one of the history group's founding members, said: "I am delighted the building will be kept the same for at least ten years.

"Everybody in the community will be, too."

The school closed in 2008, when pupils moved to the new Arnold Mill Primary.

Aldergate has asked Gedling Borough Council for permission to convert the building .

In a document outlining the plans, Aldergate said: "Meetings with local groups have been encouraging and there seems to be local support for the type of facilities we hope to provide at Church Drive."

The company declined to comment further.

From: http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/History-buffs-plan-old-school/story-16087011-detail/story.html

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