Council to up bid for derelict school

Council to up bid for derelict school

14 March 2013

DOWN Council is to double its original offer to buy a former primary school in Newcastle to build the town’s new £7.5m leisure centre.

The local authority is keen to purchase the former St. Mary’s Girls’ Primary School at Shanslieve Drive, but has been unable to agree a price with the diocese of Down and Conor which owns the building.

Councillors originally decided to build Newcastle’s new leisure centre on an existing sports pitch at Donard Park before investigating the possibility of purchasing the school site.

For the past number of weeks council officials and the agent working on behalf of the church have been unable to strike a deal for the site with their respective

valuations nowhere near close.

Councillors have now given permission for the local authority’s initial bid to purchase the site to be doubled and have welcomed suggestions that the diocese of Down and Conor is willing to pay for the cost of demolition work at the former school site.

It was confirmed on Monday night that council officers sought a second opinion on the original valuation they were given for the Shanslieve Drive site which was a lot higher. As a result, councillors gave the green light to double the offer in a bid to finally secure the former school site.

Councillor Stephen Burns said with design consultants for the new Newcastle leisure centre due to be appointed in June, it’s important the site issue is resolved as soon as possible.

Councillor Willie Clarke said all Newcastle councillors want the site issue resolved, while Councillor Eamonn O’Neill described suggestions that the parish is prepared to pay for the demolition for the former school as “interesting.”

Councillors Dessie Patterson and Patrick Clarke agreed with doubling the council’s offer for the Shanslieve Drive site and hope the enhanced bid will be successful.

Councillor Carmel O’Boyle said it is clear at last that Down Council’s preferred location for the new leisure centre is the former primary school site.

“I have been battling for over two years to persuade councillors to support me on this issue and I have received that backing.

“There still remains a lot of work to do to secure the site and to build the leisure centre for the people of Newcastle.

“The progress has been glacial and I have borne the brunt of a lot of opposition from some quarters in Down Council. But I sincerely hope that sense will prevail and we will be able to preserve Donard Park’s green space for future generations.”