Plans could breathe new life into our 100-year-old Belper school site

AN historic school building that has stood unused since February is set to be saved for the community.

Plans have been put forward to turn the former Herbert Strutt Primary School building, in Belper, into a thriving community centre, which would be home to sports, dance and performing arts groups.

The Derby Road building, which had been a school for nearly 100 years, closed its doors because it needed repairs estimated at £1.5m.

Staff and pupils instead moved to a new £3.7m school in Bargate Road, leaving the grade II-listed building empty.

But campaigners were determined to save it for the community, with 1,800 people signing a petition to stop it from being turned into flats.

The new scheme would see Belper Civic Forum take over the Derbyshire County Council-owned building, which is leased to Amber Valley Borough Council, and run it on a non-profit basis.

Trevor Griffin, chairman of the Strutt School sub-group of Belper Civic Forum, was delighted the future of the buildings could be secured.

He said: "We are very pleased and it will be a step to realising some of the ideas and dreams that the people in Belper have had for better community facilities.

"The problem for community groups in the past is that we have outgrown the space available but with extra space those groups can grow.

"We have had lots of support from members of the public and many people have told us their wishes for the building."

Mr Griffin, who handed the petition to Amber Valley Borough Council in April, said Belper Civic Forum needed to involve the public in the plans.

He said: "We will need a lot of help from people in the community and we are quite confident that will happen."

If the proposals get the go-ahead, the Civic Forum will draw up more detailed plans for how the school would be developed into the centre, which would include space for small businesses. A charitable trust would then be set up to take over the running of the site from the Civic Forum.

The trust would then apply for grants to finance the project, with cash available from English Heritage and the Big Lottery Fund.

Councillor John Williams, leader of Derbyshire County Council, said his authority had been working closely with Amber Valley council to find a suitable use for the building.

He said: "We have carefully considered the available options so we can safeguard the future of the buildings and make sure they continue to have a role in the community."

Janet Honey, chairwoman of Belper Civic Forum, said the proposals were the result of months of hard work.

She said: "The school is a much loved and valued building and is a wonderful asset for the town. Hopefully, it is now safe for the next 100 years."

The scheme is set to be given the go-ahead at a meeting of Amber Valley Borough Council on Wednesday.