Back to the grassroom as weeds get hold of former Danley Middle School
The weeds are taking over at the site of the
former Danley Middle School
Here is a look at the vacant Danley Middle School more than
three years since the last pupil set foot in its grounds.
Courtyards have become overgrown with weeds, fences and rails
have rusted over while the inside has been rendered unsafe due to
asbestos.
Kent County Council (KCC) member Mike Whiting took a tour of the
derelict site in Halfway ahead of its demolition.
The reception area at the former Danley
Middle School in Halfway
He was accompanied by Cllr Ken Pugh and KCC project manager Sue
Meads.
Cllr Whiting said: “It was a trip down memory lane. I hadn’t
been there since the final reunion event just before the
closure.
“It was a trip back in time and at times it was quite
emotional.”
The cabinet member for education, learning and skills was part
of the first intake of pupils in 1970.
Cllr Mike Whiting peers into the kitchens at
the former Danley Middle School
He was chairman of the first school council and as an adult he
went on to become a governor.
Both of Cllr Whiting’s children went to Danley and the Richard
Moreton Annex was named after his stepfather, who taught
there.
He added: “It was quite a sad and sorry state, seeing where
nature was taking parts of the building back, the ivy growing up
the walls and the weeds growing through the playground.
“The best thing for it now is to be knocked down and a new
school to be built.”
KCC has spent a total of £287,383.88 on on-site security at the
Danley Road site from its closure in August 2009 up to December
2012.
The decision was made to knock down the buildings in May 2012
and demolition work could begin any time after a 28-day waiting
period which ends on March 5.
KCC hopes the land will become the new home for a rebuilt
Halfway Houses Primary, currently based nearby in Southdown
Road.
The new school is set to receive funding from the Department of
Education’s (DFE) Priority School Build Programme. However, work is
unlikely to start until 2016 because the primary is near the bottom
of a list of 14 in the UK.
01/03/13
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