The former Kesh High School site which has been vacant for a number of years.
FERMANAGH district council is weighing up its options for the purchase of the vacant Duke of Westminster secondary school, Kesh.
Following its closure and the transfer of pupils to Devenish College, the Western Education and Library Board declared the school and grounds surplus to requirements.
The council became involved in May last year when members agreed to purchase the pitches on a 7-acre site for £75,000.
However, members baulked at buying the school buildings at the then price set by Land and Property Services.
They would be willing to consider purchase, but only if the valuation was lowered.
However, the stand-off could soon end, as this week councillors agreed to an economic appraisal being carried out on three options.
Critical to the purchase is the council’s aim to work hand in glove with Kesh Development Association towards creating a recreational facility on the site, a project estimated to cost £250,000.
The three options were set out by Gerry Knox, the council’s director of technical services at the June meeting of the council’s policy and resources committee.
The first option is the purchase of the 7-acre all-weather surfaced area and tennis court together with the existing amenity block for recreational use development.
Option two refers to the service road and a 1.7 acre open space, together with an IT building for a recycling centre.
The final option is for the council to acquire the remaining central area of buildings, car parking and a 3-acre open space for conversion into mixed use industrial/enterprise units, in conjuncton with Kesh.
This week, the council’s chef executive, Brendan Hegarty told the Herald that he was not in position to say which option the council would go or.
“It depends on the outcome of the (economic) appraisal, so it’s too early to say, but the council will address that as an option.”
It as agreed to engage Barry McGuigan of Peter Quinn Consulting at a cost of £4,500 to carry out the appraisal.
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