Ballee’s £85,000 demolition job
Thursday, 8 July 2010
Ballee Primary School is to be demolished as soon as possible.
BALLEE Primary School is to be knocked down as soon as possible at a cost of around £85,000 to prevent further damage from vandalism and potential exposure to dangerous asbestos.
The decision to get the demolition experts in urgently was approved at a meeting of the North-Eastern Education and Library Board last week.
Although the last class of children only left the school on June 25, Head of Property Services Mr George Wylie told board members the building needed to be flattened as quickly as possible.
Mr Wylie said there had already been a number of vandalism attacks. "We are concerned about further attacks on the school. Our recommendation is that, as the building is surplus to requirements, we should demolish it.
“It will be taken down to ground level, the rubble removed and we will landscape the area to tidy it up."
Parents of children at Ballee tried valiantly to keep it open but declining school rolls unfortunately meant they were fighting a losing battle.
The board was told that securing the premises was a major concern now that the school was effectively empty.
It is expected that asbestos removal experts will move in right away as the hazardous substance must be removed under strictly controlled conditions.
After that the main demolition work will take place within a matter of weeks.
One board member Mr Joe Donaghy asked about the costs of disposing of the premises.
Mr Wylie said it was estimated asbestos removal would cost about £20,000 to £25,000 with between £50,000 and £60,000 for the main demolition and clear up work. The board retains a legal responsibility for the school while it remains under their control.
Board members unanimously approved the demolition proposal which will finally spell the end for one of Ballymena's best known school buildings.
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