Peeblesshire News | News | Trail-blazing Newlands scheme steps ahead

Thursday, 21st August, 2008

Published: Friday, 1st February, 2008 12:30

Trail-blazing Newlands scheme steps ahead

By Caitlin Smith

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A “RADICAL” scheme to run a local school as a community trust has got one step closer to becoming a reality.

Scottish Borders Council confirmed this week that they would, in principle, sell part of the land to the Newlands Community Development Trust.

But they requested clarification on a few points in the application before they made a final decision.

If the Trust is given the go-ahead it will be permissible for them to apply for £1min in support from the Big Lottery Fund.

This would take them half way to raising the £2m necessary to building a state-of-the-art community facility and school sports hall.

Although the Council had said they were prepared to allow the Trust a 99-year lease on the site, the Lottery would only consider the grant if the community owned the land; meaning SBC cooperation is vital.

Major John Currie, secretary and spokesperson at the Trust said he was delighted with the Council’s decision.

“SBC’s stance on our application has been very positive.

“We needed to confirm their commitment and their willingness to sell the plot of land to us in order to be considered for funding by the Lottery in March.

“We still have a long way to go, but to have not only the Council’s agreement but their support is fantastic.”

The fight to save the school started in 2003 after SBC threatened to close down the local primary and merge it with a new school at West Linton.

But locals took matters into their own hands and made a convincing case in favour of keeping it open and raising funds to improve it.

It became a business last year and will achieve charity status in February.

Executive Member for Education, Councillor Catriona Bhatia, said she was impressed with the Trusts’ efforts and remained optimistic that they would achieve their goal.

“To their credit, they have really managed to pull it together,” she told us.

“The school was under threat and instead of picking up they placards, they thought through the issues and came up with radical and innovative ideas.

“The scheme itself is trailblazing and is a good example of how rural communities support themselves.

“Nothing is guaranteed, but I am optimistic they will manage to build a new hall.”

The school based in Romanno Bridge has four classrooms, one of which is in a portable building.

Plans reveal that once the new facility is built the old school hall will be turned into a classroom, meaning the temporary unit would no longer be needed.

And not only would the new extension provide a place where children can play sports, but a much-needed facility in which the dispersed community can hold local events and meetings.

If the Trust do receive Lottery funding in March, they still have to raise a further £800,000.

A lawyer and an architect have already pledged their services free of charge and the Council has not ruled out matching any cash raised by the group.

Councillor Bhatia added: “Rural school are the heart of the community and it is impressive that the Newlands community have been prepared to help themselves.”

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