Smaller scale redevelopment planned for Heybrook Primary School

Parents and governors of Heybrook Primary School have breathed a sigh of relief this evening (Monday 12 July 2010) as plans to redevelop the school were given the go ahead, albeit deferred until other sources of funded can be identified.

The original plans are to be reduced to a smaller and more affordable scale but the school will receive some of the work it desperately needs.

The decision to rescale the project was outlined in a report to the council cabinet that said: “Owing to the uncertainty of funding continuity of the PCP (Primary Capital Programme) grant support from central government we can only confirm that £3m of the remaining PCP budget from this financial year is available, which was to form part of the Heybrook project funding envelope valued at a total maximum of £10m (based on anticipated further PCP grant).

“The confirmed amount is insufficient to allow the procurement of the original contract for the scheme to continue, and as the increased demand for school places was to be in part satisfied by provision in the new Heybrook School, the council still need to pursue alternative arrangements to ensure some increased provision in this area of the borough.”

The report went on to state: “In the meantime, consideration has been given to re-scoping the size of the new building to reduce the total contract cost to an affordable level.”

The proposals to combine Heybrook Primary, Heybrook Sure Start Centre and South Street Nursery have been deferred until the amount of money available is known.

School governor Shefali Begum submitted a petition with more than 200 signatures on to Rochdale Township last week in a bid to ensure some of the work was still carried out.

Tonight she was delighted with the decision albeit on a much smaller scale than before, she said: “I am really pleased that we have a little bit of money to carry out the refurb. I am pleased that this hasn’t just been brushed under the carpet.

“I am very happy with tonight’s outcome and who knows what the PCP will bring in spring.”