'Irreparable damage' caused after water left on at West Sussex school: council responds

Governors said the building – at St Mary’s Church of England Primary School in Pulborough – ended up being wrecked when water was not turned off when West Sussex County Council (WSCC) vacated the premises.

Now governors at the school are seeking planning permission from Horsham District Council to demolish the building and replace it with a new nursery and community building.

In a statement to planners, the governors say: “The existing building had been let to West Sussex County Council and upon this being handed back it became apparent that there was an issue with water having been left on when WSCC vacated. This has caused irreparable damage to the building and WSCC have granted the school Section 106 funding to replace it.”

WSCC has now responded to say that the building adjacent to the school is owned by WSCC, not the school or diocese, and was not let by the school to the county council.

The governors continue: “The stipulation is that the building has to have an element of community use, which it will have and the diocese would like there to be an office for the parish priest so that they are accessible to the wider community as there is no meeting space at the local church.”

They say that the school’s current nursery is incorporated within teaching areas, and add: “However, with the importance of safeguarding of the children, there is currently a lot of crossover between parents dropping off children and collecting them with different age groups mixing at the entrance.

“It was therefore decided that the existing teaching building on site could be utilised as a dedicated nursery and with a community room and parish toom associated for the parish priest to use when meeting members of the community.”

They add that both West Sussex County Council and the diocese “have expressed their desire for this development to happen and to provide a mixed use building.”

A West Sussex County Council spokesperson said on Friday, April 11: “The building adjacent to St Mary’s CofE Primary School in Pulborough is currently owned by WSCC, not the school or diocese. It was not let by the school to the county council at any time.

“The building used to be a youth centre and at one time was leased by the county council to a youth activities provider. A few years ago the property was vacated and deemed no longer fit for purpose. The building was decommissioned by the council. Unfortunately while empty it suffered a pipe burst which caused some water damage.

“The county council has for some time been in negotiations with the Chichester Diocese to transfer this land to the ownership of the diocese so the school can redevelop this area to increase the space for nursery and community provision. It is hoped this transfer can complete in the coming weeks to facilitate the school’s aspirations.”