Picture: Cllr Liz Brennan with members of the Frenchay Residents Association outside the old school building
The campaign to save the old Frenchay Primary School building was officially relaunched this week.
Councillors Liz Brennan and Ben Burton, Conservative ward members for Frenchay and Downend on South Gloucestershire Council, have renewed their bid to see the Grade II listed building reopened for use by the local community.
Liz and Ben are working closely with residents in Frenchay, and Liz met members of the Frenchay Residents Association this week to bolster support for the campaign.
The building has been vacant since the school moved to its new premises in September 2023.
A survey conducted by Liz and Ben earlier this summer found that 97% of respondents would prefer to see the old school converted for community use rather than be lost to speculative development. Turning the building into a nursery was a popular aspiration.
Cllr Liz Brennan said: “Our message is clear – this building needs to be reopened for the benefit of local residents in Frenchay and the surrounding area. It cannot be left derelict or handed over to developers who don’t have the interests of the community at heart.
“Over the past few years, the Frenchay Residents Association and others have worked really hard to get us to the stage where the collective vision for this building can become a reality. As a result, I am confident that any obstacles to reopening the building for community use can easily be overcome.
“All that needs to happen now is for the Council to commit to doing the right thing and give this important heritage asset back to the community.”
Liz and Ben, working with members of the Frenchay Residents Association and others, will continue to press the Council for a solution that ensures the building serves the people of Frenchay.
Adrian Collins, Chair of Frenchay Residents Association, said: “The Frenchay Residents Association has shown already how the skills and experience of local residents can be harnessed to benefit the best interests of the community through successful completion of many projects and events over the past ten years.
“Nursery education is now recognised as a key factor in helping our children and grandchildren to be more successful in all aspects of their education and socialisation to develop as citizens and become useful members of our society. FRA is determined to see the old school buildings utilised to give our children the best possible opportunities in life.“
