Villagers fight to keep old school

By [pmann]

A DISPUTE has erupted between church leaders and council chiefs on one side and villagers on the other over an historic building in Cornwall.

An old school building in the heart of Devoran near Truro is at the centre of the disagreement.

Up until around two years ago the site had been Devoran Village School. Since pupils were moved to a new school on the village outskirts the old school has remained empty.

The Diocese of Truro and Cornwall Council say they jointly own the building.

However, campaigners claim the building belongs to the village after it was gifted to them by one of the county's most distinguished families.

While the church and council are considering selling the site off to developers, the Devoran Action Group (DAG) has launched a campaign to keep it for the community.

According to DAG in 1847 the Agar Robartes family, who lived at Lanhydrock House, near Bodmin, North Cornwall gave the building to the vicar and parishioners of St Feock to be used as a place of education.

Yesterday the group was joined by Andrew Williams, a direct descendant of the family, who is backing the campaign to keep the building in the hands of the community.

DAG has put together a business plan to show how the building could be used.

Uses include a pre-school, youth groups, a shop to sell local produce, a small museum, and office space for small, local businesses.

Paul Haines, chairman of the 50-strong group, said: "We want to acquire the Old School for the community to use."

A spokesman for the Diocese of Truro, said a meeting was due to take place today between themselves, the council and Devoran parish council. He said: "The meeting is to see if we can all work together to reach a compromise."

The meeting, which is closed to the public, was due to be held at County Hall, Truro.