"Published on Thursday 22 April 2004 14:40 ST ELPHIN'S School is to close after failing in its bit to raise cash by developing part of the Darley Dale site in a planning meeting last week. Administrators say the decision to refuse a planning application to build 30 houses on some of the school's ground has left the 100 year old institution with no other option. The landmark building is up for sale, redundancy notices have been issued and pupils will have to find another school building. "We are really bitterly dissapointed. We came back to the local authority with a much reduced proposal, said Martin Hughes, spokesman for the school's administration. "This time we got some of the members of the council to back our proposals and who voted for us including the leader of the council, the chairman and the vice chairman of the planning committee and an independent councillor. "I felt the whole thing was thoroughly depressing. This school has been in Darley Dale for 100 years and never once has it knocked on the council's door for help, and the one time it does that the door is shot in its face. "The parents were bitterly upset. Ground staff, caterers and others have been stuck on the dole by this decision. "We tried everything. We really explored every angle. Even pupils and staff did a funds appeal. The school's now on the open market and my best guess is that it will be taken up as a residential opportunity." Wendy Kenyon, the school's Lay Chaplain and head of religious education, said: "The staff are absolutely devastated, but I personally won't believe that the school is finished until it is dead, buried and closed for three days after that." Deborah Roddick, speaking on behalf of the Darley Resident's Action Group, said: "It was entirely the right decision to be reached. I felt sorry that the school wasn't able to continue, but the councillors made right decision and I'm in full support of them. "I don't feel that discussions about what the school may become was a reason to pass the application. "There are many ways that the land could be used like a conference centre or a company headquarters." Derbyshire Dales District Council's planning committee turned the plans down at a meeting last Wednesday because it was considered to be a development outside the local plan. Members voted 13-4 against the applications. By Dilpazier Aslam"
Reprinted by kind permission of Matlock Mercury |
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