ANGER AS £1 SCHOOL SITE SALE REVEALED
Ericht Trust’s dismay at new disclosure
Residents have reacted angrily to news that the former Hill Primary School in Blairgowrie was sold to developers for just £1.
The price of the site, which was sold to Crieff-based property developers Corryard, came to light following a Freedom of Information enquiry to Perth and Kinross Council by a member of the public.
Following the disclosure late last week, there has been a considerable amount of anger and frustration in the town at the local authority’s decision to sell the site for such a small amount, which was described at the time as the “best value” option.
PKC’s decision to reject a bid from the Ericht Trust to buy the former school - which has lain empty since 2009 - for the community was met with anger and disappointment by locals when it was announced in 2015.
Following consultation with the community, the Ericht Trust had spent over £60,000 and 7000
hours developing plans for a multi-million pound re-development of the school and its grounds into a heritage and cultural centre, complete with a state-of-the-art cinema, a cafe, and spaces suitable for a variety of uses.
However, lawyers for the Ericht Trust received a letter from the council’s estate agents informing them PKC would not be proceeding with their bid.
A few months after the decision was announced, a spokesperson for PKC said that “the council has a legal requirement to demonstrate best value for the public purse on the reuse of surplus property assets by fully considering all options from both the commercial and community sectors.”
Following the response to the Freedom of Information enquiry, which was received at the end of last week, the trustees of the Ericht Trust issued a statement.
It said:“The trustees of the Ericht Trust were shocked and dismayed to discover that the Hill Primary School site had been sold to a commercial property developer for the sum of £1.
“The Trust had spent four years developing a feasible and sustainable business plan to convert the site into a vibrant and much needed community hub for residents, visitors and to help local employment.
“Further detailed information has been requested regarding the decision process by Perth and Kinross Council about the sale of the school.
“It now appears that Blairgowrie is to have more housing provision, in the private sector, without any improvement in its community facilities, leisure activities or cultural and heritage provision to benefit its residents, attract visitors or to enhance employment opportunities.”
Ian Richards is vice-chair of Blairgowrie and Rattray Community Council (BRCC).
He said: “Those community council members who have had the opportunity to express their views have been forthright with their expressions of shock and frustration.
“Having been knocked back by the decision in 2015 to reject the very well prepared and funded offer to purchase the Hill Primary School made by the Ericht Trust, we now almost two years later learn that the council accepted an offer of £1 from Corryard.
“BRCC will avoid the general expressions of anger that many will feel appropriate at this stage.
“We will instead wait for more information that must surely now be forthcoming to shed more light on this whole sad affair, before commenting further.
“In the meantime, we stand foursquare behind the Ericht Trust and will continue to support its trustees in whatever actions they may deem appropriate.”
Local councillor for the Blairgowrie and Glens ward, Caroline Shiers, commented: “This decision was taken during the time of the previous administration and I was not a member of the committee that took the decision to dispose of the school so was not party to their reasons for disposing of the school for £1.”
Perth and Kinross Council was contacted for a comment on Monday but had not responded by the time the Blairie went to press on Tuesday.