Future of Sandye Place site agreed
Community access to the former academy land is to be preserved
Part of the former Sandye Place Academy site is set to become a ‘meanwhile’ space under Sandy Town Council, preserving community access to the land, a meeting heard.
Financial constraints are preventing the local authority from asking to acquire the whole site through a community asset transfer with Central Bedfordshire Council, as was originally intended.
A ‘meanwhile’ space can be used for short-term use, like community projects, creative work, charitable activities, social enterprises, or pop-up events until its long-term future is secured.
A report was compiled by CBC officers after an extensive consultation process, which would allow the open land element to be managed by the town council when the remaining historic assets have been sold.
Sandy town councillor Joanna Hewitt told CBC’s executive committee: “The extra time since December has allowed us to progress from the broad initial concept to a focused and realistic business plan, deliberately limited to the parkland area.
“We’re not seeking to acquire the (listed) Mansion House or the former school buildings,” she confirmed. “But we strongly want to see those premises protected and brought back into beneficial use.
“We recognise the financial and operational risks associated with them. Our proposal focuses on the town council’s strengths, managing public open spaces, organising community projects and events, and creating inclusive places that local people can enjoy.
“We want to open the parkland to the public and develop it into a permanent outdoor community hub. Our preference is for the direct community asset transfer of the defined parkland now, even though it’s not tabled as an option in your paper.
“This process would be the clearest, quickest and most resource-efficient way to secure the land for the future benefit of the community in the long term. It would allow us to begin turning our agreed vision into a deliverable programme.”
Independent Biggleswade West councillor Steve Watkins explained: “There was discomfort if we left retaining the green space entirely to the private sector.
“I made a commitment to make sure the valued parkland was maintained for the public. The hope was this would be the sale of the whole site to Sandy Town Council, but it discovered the same financial realities faced by this authority.
“So its comprehensive business case focuses on keeping the green space, which I fully support. This plan will secure that area as a park and for use as a ‘meanwhile’ space in the near future.
“Nobody has come forward with any investment ideas for this site. We don’t have capital funds to invest and are keen to remove the £100,000 annual burden of maintaining the important historic buildings.
“The town council has been unable to raise those funds. This will see those elements protected and restored by the private sector. I’m happy to work on the memorandum of understanding to the satisfaction of the town council.
“The eventual transfer will arrive by the site’s disposal, although I understand the desire to complete the process straight away. We’ve taken advice to protect our own position.
“It’s in a conservation area and contains listed assets. Any future application will need to reference the recently-adopted Sandy Neighbourhood Plan.”
The Central Bedfordshire Community Network Sandy councillor Sue Bell warned: “My biggest concern is that the memorandum of understanding isn’t legally enforceable to transfer that green space to the town council, once the whole site is sold.
“Myself and fellow ward councillor Rob Pashby would prefer to see that element being transferred directly to the town council before the sale of the rest of the site.”
Executive member for assets, business and housing councillor Watkins replied: “After a start we didn’t want with the original paper, good faith won’t satisfy you.
“But we’ve proven to be a reliable partner to the town council and ward councillors. The marketing process can progress quickly. We’ll produce a document which satisfies town councillors.
“Technically that wouldn’t hold water, but a Judge would question why the principles within it aren’t being adhered to, if there’s a legal dispute.”
The committee unanimously agreed the ‘meanwhile’ use of the green space by the town council for local residents, and the community asset transfer of this land, subject to site disposal.