Fate of disused school to be decided after protest storm

THE fate of a disused Leeds primary school at the centre of a storm of local controversy will be decided today.

The former Royal Park Primary School in Hyde Park was closed more than five years ago and has stood empty since.

The Royal Park Community Consortium (RPCC) wants to turn the Victorian building into a community centre, but two private developers want to convert it into student flats and business units.

A council report last week recommended that the building should be sold to one of the private companies, which wants to create 33 commercial units.

On Monday night more than 100 campaigners banged pots and pans and blew whistles outside the rundown building in a noisy protest at the developers’ proposals. Protesters say there are too many student flats in the area already and the site should be used solely to provide community services.

Both developers have said they would consider letting part of the development for community use, but this would mean the council receiving a lower sale price.

The RPCC says it can raise enough funds to buy the building over the next year. The council report, however, says the proposals are too risky.

The Liberal Democrat MP for Leeds North West, Greg Mulholland, sent a letter to the council earlier this week urging it to postpone the decision and give the Royal Park Community Consortium more time to put its business plan together.

He said: “Due to the particular needs of the community in Hyde Park there needs to be further discussion between council officers and community representatives, before the future of this landmark community building is decided.

“There has been real commitment on this issue from so many local people; it is only fair that council officers should look properly over the consortium’s proposal so that the correct decision is made.”

Activists highlighted the plight of the former school last year when they temporarily took over the building before being evicted by the council.

Original plans to convert the building into retirement flats collapsed as a result of the recession.

The executive committee of the council will decide the issue when it meets at 1pm today at the Civic Hall.