Site of notorious school set for community centre role

The Ridings School earned nationwide notoriety in the 1990s for the behaviour of some of its unruly pupils.

It later recovered some of its self-respect under new leadership but it was no great surprise when the council agreed to close the Ovenden school in the summer of 2009.

Cabinet then agreed that discussions should take place with social enterprise or development trust organisations to look at how it could be used for the benefit of the local community.

About 20 organisations originally expressed an interest in possible relocation to the site.

Next Monday, cabinet will discuss a proposal which would see transfer of the Ridings to Centre at Three Ways, a locally-based community association.

The association has already set out a business plan which would see initial development of the site for office and community space.

Key anchor tenants would include: Calderdale Council and the New Beginnings Christian Centre.

The proposal would also ensure the continued provision of sports facilities on the site.

Centre at Three Ways would then look to widen use of the former Ridings location, providing homes for a variety of community groups and projects.

The recommendation being considered by Cabinet should see the site being handed over on a long-term lease with a management agreement to include a series of performance indicators ensuring that the project is delivered successfully.

If Cabinet agrees to the proposal, it is expected that a lease would be drawn up by the autumn of this year.

Calderdale Council’s cabinet member for economy and environment, Councillor Barry Collins, says the council is keeping its promise to make sure the former school site is maintained for the community.

“When the school closed, the easy option would have been to demolish the building and dispose of the site.

“But we always said that we would join with partner organisations to ensure that this valuable asset was put to good use for the communities of North Halifax.

“A doctors’ surgery has already opened there and we expect a pharmacy to also be provided in the near future.

“So it is great news that Centre at Three Ways has now outlined its plans for the rest of the site.

“Potentially, this is one of the biggest asset transfers anywhere in the country at the moment.

“It has been a long and complex process but the council has worked hard with local partners to find a way forward and ensure the re-birth of the Ridings site.

“Now the scheme can take its place, alongside the £35m Trinity Academy at Holmfield and the OSCA sports development at Four Fields, as part of our community’s wider renaissance project for North Halifax”.