COMMUNITY centre volunteers are “looking forward to conversations” with Church of England officials over the future of the former Startforth Morritt primary school after education bosses permitted changes to the trust which manages the complex.
The school was closed in 2016 and since then it has been run as a community centre by volunteers in the village, hosting a range of activities including a ballet school, forest school, choirs, a weekly lunch club and parish council meetings.
In December last year the Diocese of Leeds applied to the Department of Education to change the terms of the original trust, which would allow the sale of the premises, part of which is owned by Durham County Council.
Volunteers and residents opposed the application and mounted a fierce campaign, led by vicar Revd David Tomlinson and churchwarden Andrea Clarke, submitting a 1,200-signature petition to the Department of Education on the last day of a month-long consultation.
Campaigners learned last week the order has been granted by the secretary of state. A letter from the land transactions section of the Department of Education, said: “The secretary of state has decided that an education endowment order (EEO) should be made.”
It added: “The minister does have sympathy with the trustees and the members of the local community. In particular, the concerns that the draft order does not expressly refer to the fact the site is registered as an asset of community value and that the benefit of the asset under the current draft EEO would be for the entire Diocese of Leeds.”
To address this the draft order will be amended to include reference to the site being an asset of community value and the benefit of the asset to be limited to the episcopal area of Ripon only.
The letter added: “The diocese has assured us that it is very supportive of local community activity and that its plan and aspiration are to work with the community to discuss the future use of the school premises and will look to enable a continued community use of the premises if viable.”
The Startforth Community Centre management committee put out a statement following the announcement, saying: “The secretary of state for education has decided in favour of Leeds diocese.
“However, this has been tempered by an expression of sympathy and support for the work of the community centre and an expectation that the diocese will work sympathetically with us. The diocese has also expressed their willingness to work with the community and so we are now looking forward to our conversations with them.”
A spokesperson for the Diocese of Leeds said: “The diocese is pleased that the Department for Education has provided clarity regarding the legal status of Startforth Community Centre. This decision provides both understanding and the opportunity for progress. As has always been the case, the diocese remains committed to working with the community and looks forward to future positive discussions.”
Revd Tomlinson said he “welcomed the decision” as an opportunity to draw a line under the uncertainty and begin to plan for the centre’s future.
He added: “I have been in contact with the diocesan secretary who has reaffirmed the commitment by the notice, noted in the report, to work with local people. I would like to say a huge thank you to all of those who have supported us and helped the Diocese of Leeds hear the voice of the people of Startforth, now watch this space.”
The community centre’s volunteer management committee has already contacted users group to assure them activities will continue at the venue while discussions are ongoing.
