VIEWS SOUGHT ON FUTURE USE OF WELLBRAE PRIMARY
A RALLYING call has gone out to all organisations in Forfar that could make use of the former Wellbrae Primary School to get in touch with members of Forfar Community Council.
Following a decision made at last Tuesday's meeting of Angus Council's development standards committee, the future of the building is still in question - developers Taylor Shepherd Homes having their application to demolish the disused school unanimously rejected by councillors.
Council planners had recommended the plans for the 132-year-old Category C listed building be refused when they came before last week's committee, arguing the proposals were against the town's local plan.
They warned the developer's proposals to demolish the buildings on the site to allow a housing development fell foul of government guidance, stating listed buildings can only be demolished if several key factors are met.
These included the need to prove no other use can be found for a threatened site.
In his report which went to committee, Mr Eric Lowson, director of infrastructures services reminded members the Corporate Services Committee agreed to sell the site to the applicant earlier this year; the missives for the sale are conditional on the developer getting consent to demolish the existing buildings on the site.
Historic Scotland raised concerns about the demolition of the listed building, stating the application shows no appreciation of the significance of the building and does not include any clear justification for demolition which is required by Scottish Ministers policy.
Forfar Community Council also raised concerns about the demolition of the listed building, stating the building is important to the people of Forfar and an alternative use should be found for it.
Five letters of representation were also received with the main concern relating to the loss of the building.
At last Tuesday's meeting councillors hit out against the developers for suggesting the building be razed and called for the developer to go "back to the drawing board" and look at ways of retaining the building before submitting another application.
Forfar councillor Colin Brown told the meeting the site would be a perfect home for many of Forfar's small groups and societies and suggested an "action group" come together to push for the school's retention as some form of community hub.
This suggestion was mooted last month by Forfar Community Council which appealed for all avenues to be explored for the future use of the school.
Members felt the building would be the ideal venue for a community or heritage centre which would be a real attraction for the town.
Since then a number of people have contacted the community council to express regret over the plans to demolish the school.
Speaking after last Tuesday morning's meeting - which she addressed as a member of the public - Mrs Isobel Ross, chairman of Forfar Community Council said she was "absolutely delighted" the application to demolish the building had been refused.
Although unsure as to how the application will now progress, she said the local councillors spoke well in support of the building's retention.
She said: "Quite a few people have come forward and I think, to be honest, we have done the right thing objecting to it being demolished.
"We don't know what the plans are now but we, as a community council, would like to see it used as some sort of community centre.
"There is a great dearth of halls and I would like to think it could be used as something useful.
"I think the building has a future and the community council feel it has a future. This could be a community project and we encourage everybody with a view, whether it's a suggestion of how the school could be used or offers of help, to come forward.
"We can't do very much at this stage apart from gauge opinion."
Mrs Ross can be contacted by writing to 35 Wellbraehead, Forfar, DD8 3AX or e-mail isobelross58@yahoo.co.uk
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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