BPT Open Letter to B&NES about Future of Old King Edward’s School

BPT Open Letter to B&NES about Future of Old King Edward’s School

BPT has been in touch with Officers at B&NES Council at regular intervals over the years regarding the Old King Edward’s School on Broad Street. Given the impact of COVID on the decline of the high street it is even more timely than ever for local action on this ‘at risk’ Grade II* site.

It is shameful that the subsequent owner has let this fine building moulder for over 30 years with no attempt to put forward a collaborative scheme for reuse and restoration. In our view, the Council should be doing everything within its power to CPO the site, and once in public ownership opportunities for funding will follow. Possible reuses could include the relocation of the City Archives out of the basement of the Guildhall into a local history centre, or a new home for the Fashion Museum.

Historic England say that “their local Heritage at Risk teams strive to find solutions for sites at risk” and we would urge them to demonstrate that they are working actively to remedy the situation.

You can read our letter in full here.

 

(Photo credit @BrilliantBath)