Amber Valley Lib Dems slam decision to deny community use of the renovated Grammar School

Local Liberal Democrats in Heanor have described the decision to lease the newly renovated Grammar School to Derbyshire County Council (DCC) as a ‘betrayal of residents’.

Amber Valley Borough Council (AVBC) has announced that instead of it becoming a local business and community hub as it was intended when the project was agreed and funded by central government from the ‘Future High Streets Fund’ it will instead be leased to DCC. Amber Valley Borough Council (AVBC) at the time said the building was to be "restored and repurposed as a shared use facility, including space for business, training and community uses".

The decision taken by the AVBC cabinet, behind closed doors, has been described as turning that on its head. 

Local Heanor resident and Chair of Amber Valley Liberal Democrats, Barry Holliday said: “This is nothing more than a behind-closed-doors decision which stinks. It’s robbing the town we live in of a project which promised so much but will deliver nothing more than an office block, a council ‘cubicle farm’ not a vibrant community and business hub like we were promised. No new jobs, not enough parking, but plenty of new traffic issues and residents being ignored, as usual! A complete betrayal of Heanor residents who are rightly outraged by this decision. 

“The project was funded by public monies from central government, taxpayers money of approx. £8.5million (That’s the equivalent of fixing approx. 120,000 potholes) that will now not give any benefit to our little corner of Derbyshire.

“Footfall will not be increased into the town as there are no new businesses as a result of this change. The car parking will be insufficient for the number of DCC employees likely to be at the site, meaning parking issues for local residents on nearby streets. There will be no new job opportunities for Heanor residents as it is existing DCC staff moving in not new positions which would be available for local residents to fill.

“I’m calling on Cllr Emmas-Williams to reconsider this decision, or he needs to consider his position on both AVBC and Heanor & Loscoe Town Council (HLTC). Cllr Emmas-Williams has a ‘pecuniary interest’ registered regarding the ownership of land within HLTC, but details are considered sensitive under the localism act of 2011. He should urgently confirm in public that this interest has not influenced his decision on the Grammar project.

“I also call on Cllr Emmas-Williams to make public:
* if this decision regarding the change of use has been discussed with the relevant Ministry in Westminster given that the project was funded with public monies, and if so, what was said;
* any discussions or advice regarding the new funding / leasing arrangement and how that would change if both AVBC and DCC are abolished into a new single tier Unitary Authority as is currently proposed. How would the ‘stable rental income’ claimed by the local Labour Party materialise if the Grammar is owned AND used by this new Unitary Authority? You can’t lease it to yourselves can you?
• when leasing the Grammar to DCC was first discussed, how many times it has been discussed by AVBC officers, Cabinet and Councillors before the decision was made and before it was made public. 
• if any other options have been put forward other than leasing the building to DCC, and if so, what were they?

...and to apologise publicly to the residents of Heanor who have had their trust broken and their wishes ignored."

Barry also added: “We welcome the decision being ‘called in’ to the council officers meaning the scrutiny committee must discuss this on 12th August. The committee needs to take this matter seriously and investigate how this has happened and if it’s ‘above board’ because it certainly doesn’t feel like it to me.”