No access to school site before demolition

EAST Ayrshire Council has confirmed that no public access will be allowed for the former Greenmill building before it’s demolition.

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

Locals who once attended the school were 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.

The idea was raised at a recent

East Ayrshire Council cabinet, but concerns were raised over public safety after the former Greenmill Primary building was repeatedly targeted by vandals.

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.

But the building has lain empty since Netherthird’s pupils and staff moved into their new home on Craigens Road in February 2023.

An East Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: “East Ayrshire Council can confirm that following a request at a meeting of Cabinet for access to Greenmill Primary, the team responsible for the demolition sought advice from colleagues from Health and Safety and Risk and Insurance.

“It has been agreed that due to the current condition of the property the request can not be supported at this stage of the project.

“The property has been vandalised, shuttering has been placed on all windows so there is no natural light and utilities have been disconnected in preparation for demolition.

“The property would not be safe for members of the public to visit.”