Victorian school building saved

OPPOSITION over plans to demolish a Victorian school building has prompted a U-turn by planners.

Gloucestershire County Council wanted to knock down the former Hatherley Day Centre site in Tredworth to make way for 14 homes.

But after concerns raised by Gloucester Civic Trust, nearby residents and Gloucester City Council, the plans have been amended to retain the old Victorian building, which made up part of the centre.

Updated proposals to be submitted to the city council are for the demolition of the newer parts of the building on the Vicarage Road side to make room for seven new houses on the site.

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The council is proposing to sell off the old Victorian building which is the site of the former Hatherley Secondary School on the open market.

"We are very relieved," said John Lovell, secretary of the Civic Trust, which failed to win listed status for the building.

"Our voice and that of the residents has been listened to."

Councillor Ray Theodoulou, cabinet member for finance and change, said: "We have listened to concerns from local people.

"Our aim is to get maximum market value for all of our surplus property so we can invest it back into essential frontline services.

"However, we do listen to communities and that's why we have come up with a new proposal for the old day centre site."

The proposals will be submitted to the City Council this week.

Earlier this year Shire Hall said the building is unremarkable and its architect, Alfred J Dunn, little known. But the trust pointed out Pevsner's "Buildings of England" recognises Dunn's work and said of the Victorian and Edwardian schools in Gloucester "the best are Tredworth, and the Queen Anne Hatherley Road by AJ Dunn".