Local sports clubs in the Scarborough area could have to find a new home following plans to relocate and rebuild Scalby School on part of the former Lower Graham School site
The former Lower Graham School site at Raincliffe has been used for local community sports teams since 2017. The site is owned by North Yorkshire Council but managed by Hawkes Health Fitness & Coaching.
Last month the council agreed to a proposed land swap plan with the the Coast and Vale Learning Trust which would see Scalby School move into a new purpose built building on the Lower Graham Site. The move is intended to facilitate the construction of a new, modern school to replace the existing Scalby School, which has been partially decommissioned due to the presence of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC). The new school build would be funded by the Department for Education.
If it goes ahead that move could leave the sports clubs that are currently using the Lower Graham Site without a home.
Robbie Hawks, who manages the Raincliffe site for the local community, has called for the support of local councillors to find new homes for the various sporting activities currently operating there.
Local councillor John Ritchie has voiced worries regarding the potential impact on these clubs, stating that the site is already well used by "hundreds of families". Councillor Ritchie highlights that activities at the site include a "football development school for 3 to 16 year olds," as well as netball leagues and badminton activities. He is concerned that these groups could be left without a home if the development proceeds and wants the groups involved to be consulted on the proposals.
Robbie Hawks has expressed his concern that the impact on sport was not adequately considered in the relocation plans.
Hawks acknowledged that the new school for Scalby is a "good thing" but emphasised the worry surrounding sporting facilities, he appealed to members of the council's Scarborough and Whitby Area Committee for their support in finding new homes for the displaced groups.
A response from North Yorkshire Council said:
"while we can not go into detail about any commercial agreement in a public forum, NYC officers will continue to work with you to try to identify alternative sites where possible
We'll also arrange for our leisure service to contact you to discuss the leisure strategy for the Scarborough area.
At this time, the timescales associated with the school relocation are not yet, not yet confirmed, but offices will continue. To liaise with you in relation to the current agreement.".
North Yorkshire Council's corporate director for children's services had previously acknowledged the worries of existing leaseholders and the work they have done and offered assurances that conversations will occur in the future, depending on the outcome of a feasibility study, while noting that there is no guarantee the Lower Graham site is the right location for the new Scalby School. The council will grant a 125-year lease at a peppercorn rent to the Coast and Vale Learning Trust, conditional on the certainty that the new school will be delivered.
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