Meeting planned about future of Kindle school

Meeting planned about future of Kindle school

15 October 2014

TALKS are to be held before the end of the month to discuss the provision of a new community centre in Ballykinlar.
The former Kindle Primary School at Commons Road has been earmarked as a base for the much-needed new facility.
The school was vacated a number of years ago with Down Council keen to acquire the building from the South Eastern Education and Library Board (SEELB) to advance plans for a new centre.
Women in Ballykinlar have also joined forces with military wives formerly based at the nearby army base to help spearhead the drive for a new community hub.
It was confirmed at Monday night’s meeting of Down Council that senior officials from the South Eastern Board’s Youth Services and Property Services departments are to meet with local authority representatives to discuss the future of the former primary school.
News of the talks comes amid mounting concern that the property, which has been subjected to several vandal attacks and become a meeting point for some young people engaged in anti-social behaviour, is falling into further disrepair.
Down Council’s Director of Recreation and Community Services, Mr. Michael Lipsett, confirmed on Monday night that talks with senior education officials will “definitely happen” before the end of October. He said the SEELB has been given a number of dates for the meeting, with council officials awaiting their reply.
“We are trying to secure a date which suits all the major partners and this meeting will definitely happen,” he added.
Councillor Garth Craig highlighted the need to keep the project to provide a new community centre in Ballykinlar, though he said the final say rested with the new Newry, Mourne and Down Council.
Councillor Dermot Curran said he hoped the forthcoming talks will be successful and lead to the purchase and redevelopment of the former primary school for community use.
He said the Ballykinlar and Tyrella Community Association was fully behind the proposal and wanted to play a key role in helping deliver it.
“We have been talking about this particular proposal for a number of years and it’s a project many people, not least the residents of Ballykinlar, want to see delivered,” he said.
He said the SEELB was keen to provide youth services in Ballykinlar and has previously indicated it would rent space at the former school if it was under council ownership.
He added: “This would not only provide an income stream for the new centre, but provide much-needed facilities for young people in the village.
“There is a clear need for a dedicated community centre in Ballykinlar as there is nowhere for people to meet and hold events. This is an issue we need to address.”