Last updated at 11:38, Thursday, 14 June 2012

DISTINGTON parish councillors are still in the dark over the sale of the former Distington junior school, Main Street, which was due to be auctioned off in Manchester earlier this year. It was expected to fetch around £110,000.

Very little feedback had been forthcoming from Cumbria County Council, said chairman John Bowman who further expressed his disappointment at the lack of clear information about any progress on the sale of the old building.

Council clerk Joe Holliday told councillors that the county council was seeking a buyer for the building and wanted assurances that it would not be demolished. There was no way the parish council could take it on as the running costs were too high, he added.

Councillors Bowman and Holliday agreed to meet with a county council officer to discuss the matter. “I would like to see any proceeds from the sale of the school or the site to be re-invested in this community,’’ said Coun Bowman. “The Distington Community School would welcome extra space from the old school site to use as an outdoor play area,’’

The old school is owned by the county, however Distington parish councillors say the parish council owns the 1902 clockface on the tower and would like it back. The school opened in 1877 and closed its doors in 2001 when the infant and junior schools were amalgamated to become Distington Community School on Church Road. The building gained a new lease of life in 2004, when it reopened as a learning disabilities centre. Recently, it has been used by Children’s Services and the NHS.

First published at 11:09, Thursday, 14 June 2012
Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk