A call for action in determining the future of the old King Edward’s Junior School building in Bath’s Broad Street has been made by Bath Preservation Trust.
It follows a recent attack by vandals on what is a Grade 11* listed property which has stood derelict for years.
The Trust’s CEO Caroline Kay says: The recent break-in, as well as causing damage to the historic structure, shows how vulnerable a property like this can be when its owner leaves it unused, increasingly derelict and potentially at risk of irreversible damage through vandalism.
The building is Grade II*, a high level of national designation, and is on the national ‘at risk’ register. It is a poor advertisement both for a World Heritage City and for one of the South West’s leading independent schools, who sold the building in good faith over 20 years ago.
The Local Authority need to get on the front foot to inspect its current condition and determine whether or not the owner has any intention of carrying out the extant planning permission.
Also Historic England need to do as they say on their website, where ‘their local Heritage at Risk teams strive to find solutions for sites at risk’. We would urge them to demonstrate to the concerned public that Historic England, the Council and the owner are working actively to address this long overdue eyesore; and if not, what they propose to do about it.
Very sad–I hope this is cared for and well.
The neglect of this historic building is a disgrace both to the owners and to the council.