Community hall plans for Kindle Primary School site

Community hall plans for Kindle Primary School site

1 February 2017

TALKS are continuing in a bid to secure the former Kindle Primary School in Ballykinlar for community use at no cost to ratepayers.

Newry, Mourne and Down Council officials are in discussion with the Education Authority to secure the Commons Road building for nothing under the community transfer scheme.

The scheme is a Department for Communities initiative which recommends that government departments which have surplus land can transfer property for the development of new facilities ,including community centres or social enterprise developments.

The council has confirmed this week that it has submitted an expression of interest to the Education Authority to acquire the former primary school building, confirming that discussions are at an early stage.

The local authority is keen to acquire the Commons Road site to help develop a new community centre and councillor Dermot Curran is hoping the ongoing discussions reach a successful conclusion.

The Education Authority was looking for £80,000 for the derelict building and surrounding land and had agreed to reduce the asking price by £30,000. Council officials are now hoping they will be able to strike a deal which would see the former school and its ground transferred to local authority ownership at no cost.

Councillor Curran is one of several politicians who has highlighted the need for a new community facility in Ballykinlar to help revitalise the village and provide everyone in the area with a much-needed venue which would be capable of hosting a range of activities.

He said previous attempts by the former Down Council to acquire the Commons Road site proved unsuccessful, but hopes the latest attempt to secure the property at no cost to ratepayers will be successful.

Councillor Curran said feasibility studies carried out by Down Council in 2009 and 2013 identified the need for community facilities in Ballykinlar, with separate studies by the former South Eastern Education and Library Board identifying the need for a full-time youth worker and dedicated youth rooms within the village.

The local councillor hopes the Commons Road site can be secured, with council officials working closely with the  Ballykinlar and Tyrella Community Association to discuss its future development.

“Education officials have highlighted the need for youth facilities in Ballykinlar and hopefully they may be able to assist with the cost of developing new centre,” suggested councillor Curran. “If the site can be secured, a plan for its redevelopment with the emphasis on community use is essential.”

He added: “I hope Newry, Mourne and Down Council’s bid to secure the site under the community transfer scheme is successful. The owners of the site are keen to dispose of it, while the local authority and residents in Ballykinlar and Tyrella are keen to see a new community centre constructed.

“Ballykinlar has missed out on major public sector investment over many years and I hope that will soon change with plans for a much-needed community hub developed and brought to fruition in what is an expanding village.”

A local authority spokesman added: “Newry, Mourne and Down Council has submitted an expression of interest to the Education Authority in respect of a proposed community asset transfer of the former Kindle Primary School. This is a complex process and discussions are at an early stage.”