SCHOOL LAND SALE

West Park Community School, in West Road, Spondon, is trying to sell off its derelict lower school site for housing for the second time in four years. But, controversially, it will receive only a quarter of the possible £2.75m land sale value. The school will reluctantly hand over most of the cash to Derby City Council, despite wanting to create community facilities such as a swimming pool with the cash. In October, 1998, and February, 1999, city councillors blocked the sale of the land, when it was worth just £330,000, because they said it was green wedge.

But residents fear that the lure of up to £2m into city council coffers could mean that the plans will get through this time. A non-legally binding local agreement drawn up a few years ago states that 50% of money raised from such sales should go to the city's education department, with 25% to the council itself and 25% to the school. Staff and governors at West Park had hoped to be allowed to retain the money for the school and wanted to build a new maths and computing block, a new sports hall, new youth facilities and re-equip science laboratories.

The city council has insisted that the school should hand over most of its cash and in return the school will be included in a council plan which could attract upwards of £100m in Government funding to renovate and rebuild all city secondary schools. Head teacher Brian Walker said, "Council officers have made their offer and at present we don't know what will be included in the plan to the Government, whether or not it will be accepted and when any building could begin, either way we're not masters of our own destiny. But after many discussions, the governing body feels it has to accept the council's offer and hopes that the bid to the Government comes good." (Source: Derby Evening Telegraph)