Empty site could be part of new school 'solution'

The site of part of a former high school could be "part of the solution" for a new primary facility for the area, the education minister has said.

The land in the centre of Douglas has been unused since the former lower school for St Ninian's High School on Park Road was demolished in 2013.

The site was originally earmarked for a mixed use development including housing, but has not been released by the Department of Education, Sport and Culture (Desc).

Minister Julie Edge said Desc was "retaining it for education" as no other sites had been identified as suitable for a new school.

Ms Edge was quizzed over what plans there were to develop the site in the House of Keys on Tuesday.

She confirmed that the department would not release the land as no other area in Douglas had been deemed suitable for a school.

Despite the intention to develop the plot and a "concept design for Park Road completed", there was currently "no planning in place for a replacement", she said.

The land was not big enough to develop a "two-form entry school", which which would have two form groups per year group, Ms Edge said.

Instead the department was considering building a junior school at Park Road and the corresponding infants section at the former Ballaquayle site.

She said Park Road was "not sufficient for a two-form entry but it could be part of the solution".

Some Douglas MHKs expressed frustration at the uncertainty over the site's future, including David Ashford, who said there had been "11 years of indecision".

He questioned whether it was cost effective to "split a school in half over two sites with two sets of running costs and appropriate staffing costs".

Echoing those concerns Joney Faragher MHK, who said is was "prime land in central Douglas", which was "ideal for many different projects".

"It really shouldn't be left undeveloped 11 years after the former school's demolition," she said.

Ms Edge said the department needed to "find a solution urgently" but it would also need to "find the funding".

Although there were "many challenges" when it came to "finances for the island", education was her "priority" and the development of a new school for the area was "moving forward", she added.

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