By Press Release
Will the community of Yarmouth get any justice after 168 years of commitment to their school?
It is unjust that the Community of Yarmouth must raise the money to buy back a site which was given to its people. The Yarmouth School site was donated for the education of children and adults and entrusted for that purpose to the Rector of Yarmouth and the churchwardens. Throughout its history, many individuals and businesses have supported the school and its work. In the last few years alone, the local community raised £20,000 for improvements and temporary classrooms.
Although the original trust gift was from Catherine Leigh, some of the site was owned by the old Borough of Yarmouth, and the churchwardens and managers had to contribute to the running costs. The property deeds were only transferred to Portsmouth Diocese Office in September 1987, having been held in Yarmouth for 133 years.
Yarmouth’s commitment is now worth less than nothing, because in order to secure the site for future use, we, the community will have to pay again. Some money raised will pay off borrowings for the new school, but all the rest will go back to the Department of Education and central government. Portsmouth Diocese has sold out the site to the IW Council, and central government’s Department for Education to help fund the school in Freshwater.
The survey by Yarmouth Town Council with over 200 responses, shows residents in favour of the site being used for: educational purposes – 93 per cent, exhibition centre – 68 per cent, social housing – 42 per cent, affordable housing – 18 per cent and market housing – 9 per cent. The comments included many useful suggestions for the future use of the site.
Yarmouth Town Council’s school site working party now has guidance from the IW Council on the preferred uses of the site in the future. Their priorities (listed below) closely match the responses from the Yarmouth community. There is no mention of development for second homes, which the people of Yarmouth rejected outright.
1. Provision of affordable housing for Island residents: if the site is eventually sold and redeveloped to housing, it is possible that at least part of the site will provide affordable housing for Island residents.
2. Responding to climate change and enhancing the Biosphere: if the site is eventually redeveloped, it will need to be in accordance with statutory and local regulations to minimise zero emissions during and after construction.
3. Economic recovery and reducing poverty: if the site is eventually sold for commercial use, it could bring a range of benefits to assist in economic recovery and reducing poverty, such as apprenticeships and new jobs.
4. Impact on young people and future generations: again, if the site is eventually sold for commercial use it could provide a range of benefits for young people and future generations through apprenticeships and training.
With this support, the Working Party is looking at providing six to eight units of community-led affordable housing, a site for a new Scout Hut, an exhibition/educational museum and a new facility for traditional boat building which will train apprentices.
If our negotiations with the IW Council are successful we will start fund raising to acquire the site.
This time, it will belong to the community in perpetuity!