Public could get to visit old school before demolition

MEMBERS of the public could be given one last chance to visit a former Cumnock school before it’s razed to the ground if a suggestion from one councillor becomes reality.

But concerns have already been raised over public safety after the former Greenmill Primary building was repeatedly targeted by vandals.

The building, on the town’s Barrhill Road, is due to be demolished, with work expected to start later this year.

It was home to Greenmill Primary until 2020, when Greenmill merged with Barshare Primary and moved to the new Barony Campus to form Lochnorris Primary School.

The former Greenmill building then served as a temporary home for Netherthird Primary

School after problems were discovered with the old Netherthird building’s ceilings.

But the building has lain empty since Netherthird’s pupils and staff moved into their new home on Craigens Road in February 2023 The historic building was also previously used by Cumnock Academy.

Locals who once attended the school are understood to have been asking whether it would be possible to take one last visit through the school before it is consigned to the history books.

Speaking at a meeting of East Ayrshire Council’s cabinet this week, Labour councillor Barry Douglas, speaking on behalf of colleagues in Cumnock, asked strategic lead Angela Graham whether this would be a possibility.

Responding on his own local knowledge of the building and area, Councillor Jim McMahon (SNP, Cumnock and New Cumnock) said: “I am aware of the vandalism that’s taken place round about that building, with the windows that’s been smashed in it.

“We need to be really careful if we’re going to allow members of the public into that building.”

Council leader, Douglas Reid asked Ms Graham

to investigate and report back on whether public access would be safe or possible.

The building was put up for sale by EAC last year, but after it failed to find a buyer, councillors backed a call from officials to go ahead with demolition.