School consortium fears flats proposal

Andrew Robinson

A PUBLIC meeting attracted about 100 people who want to see a disused primary school become a locally-run community centre.

Community activists have drawn up an 80-page business plan for the former Royal Park Primary School in Leeds, which closed in 2004.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A community consortium has submitted plans to Leeds Council but it is believed that developers want to turn the sprawling Victorian building into flats.

On Saturday, the Royal Park Consortium held a public meeting at All Hallows Church in Hyde Park.

Consortium member Peter Lawrence, an English teacher, said: “We had about 100 people there. The mood was enthusiastic and supportive.”

Although there was a good turnout of middle class professionals, including politicians, there were few from the Muslim community and the area’s traditional working class community, according to Mr Lawrence.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I think we have to reach out to other elements in the community who don’t necessarily come to public meetings. The Muslim community was poorly represented and the traditional community was missing.”

Mr Lawrence said a lot of people who did not attend the meeting were interested in the plans but there was an air of “cynicism” that anything will come of it.

The consortium’s next step will be to set up a formal management structure and continue fundraising and trying to get more people involved.

The Council is currently investigating which tender is the stronger. A decision is expected next month.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Mr Lawrence believes that the Council may favour a developer’s bid, but with some community use for the building.

“We think the Council will want us to combine with a commercial enterprise but this could remove the community’s enthusiasm. We are holding out for a bigger goal.”

He believes the Council itself ought to “stand beside” the community and allow the building to become a “community hub” managed by local people.