Cllr George Brown has made a delegated decision to sell the Chale School buildings and site.
Four bids were made, but it’s currently unclear who the highest bidder is. We’ve contacted the council and await their response.
The delegated decision notice says, it will sell to “the highest offer received from the proposed purchaser, who is also in the strongest financial position to proceed with the purchase, be accepted.”
The reasons for the sale are given as to “release a capital receipt into the School Re-organisation’s capital investment budget as well as assist in delivering the Schools
Reorganisation Programme”, and “To raise educational standards and to provide greater opportunities for all young people on the Island.”
Background
During the councils decision to reorganise the school system on the Island, changing it from three tier to two tier, (first detailed in January 2008), Chale school was often cited by the council and the council Leader, Cllr David Pugh, as an example of inefficiency – a small school with a small number of pupils.
After the council announced in May 2008 that they would be closing Chale school as part of the reorganisation, campaigners worked hard attempting to save Chale school included a petition with over 2,000 signatures being handed to Island MP, Andrew Turner, at the House of Commons, to protest at the proposed closure of Chale Primary School.
Federation also refused
Despite the Church changing their position, moving to support the school’s Federation, the council refused the proposal.
A local group put a proposal together to turn it into a heritage and community centre, but later claimed that the council had ‘moved the goal posts at the last minute’, changing their decision to allow them to lease the building.
Most recently, back in January 2010, the plans for a South Wight Rural Primary school were scrapped.
Full background on schools’ reorganisation
Read all articles on VentnorBlog about the schools reorganisations on the Isle of Wight.
Today’s delegated decision notice
