School's key repairs under threat

VITAL work to repair buildings at a special needs school in Kirklees may not be given the go-ahead by council members when they meet this week as the authority grapples with budget cuts.

Longley Special School, Longley, Huddersfield, is badly in need of refurbishment but members will debate if the cash would be better spent elsewhere.

The school, on Dog Kennel Bank, works with 118 children aged five to 16 who have complex needs and are some of the most vulnerable children in the borough.

Longley New Hall, one of three school buildings on the site, was closed in November 2007 after the ceiling collapsed.

Kirklees Council has spent 900,000 improving the historic Grade II listed building, but members will be asked to decided whether to go ahead with spending an extra 1.8m to refurbish New Hall and remodel and refurbish a 1960s block at the school.

Some cash grants can only be spent at Longley but members will be told part of this money – over 1m – could be used elsewhere and will decide if they want to support the schools plan or divert the cash into other projects given the cuts to council budgets unveiled by the coalition Government last week.

A report to members of Kirklees Council’s cabinet committee today says: “This school deals with some of the most vulnerable pupils in Kirklees.

“This project will provide a modern, stimulating environment with enhanced facilities that will facilitate delivery of the required curriculum.

“The new revamped accommodation will be a significant improvement on the existing buildings.”

Councillors were warned in 2008 that there was a shortage of dedicated provision for pupils with severe autistic spectrum disorder and no post-16 specialist provision.

The report adds: “The completed project will ensure that the school will have appropriate accommodation for the medium to long term future.

“This is important as the demise of the national Building School for the Future programme and the likely reduced capital grants to local authorities for school buildings works means the opportunity to provide a new build school for Longley is unlikely to arise during the next decade.”

If members decide to suspend the work, the report says the school can continue to use temporary classrooms until 2013 when existing planning permission runs out. Then it must be decided whether to shut the school and move pupils elsewhere or re-apply for planning permission to carry out the work.

The report to members says: “The school occupies three buildings, two of which are over 100 years old. One of these, Longley New Hall, is a Grade II listed building and, in terms of the Ramsden Estate, is one of the most important buildings in Huddersfield.

“During 2009 extensive research was undertaken to explore the history of the New Hall and the Longley site and to examine its historical significance.

“A detailed schedule of conservation audit and separate gazetteer was produced – these demonstrated Longley’s close association since 1679 with the Ramsden family (who were instrumental in the development and evolution of Huddersfield) and the importance of the New Hall as it was designed by WH Crossland, a leading architect of his time whose designs include Rochdale Town Hall, Holloway Sanatorium and the Royal Holloway College.”

Work has been completed replacing the roof and other works to make the building weatherproof. However, internal work is still needed to make is suitable for use as a classroom again.

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