COUNCILLORS in Barnoldswick look set to be thwarted in their bid to buy the soon-to-be-former Barnoldswick Primary School.

The York Street school will soon be replaced by a new primary school on the site of West Craven High School early next year.

Councillors on the West Craven Committee had expressed an interest in buying the school and turning it into an open green space for the town's residents.

But the site could cost more than £250,000 to purchase from its current owners.

Glenys Barnes, from Pendle Council’s property agents Liberata, has spoken to Lancashire County Council about the land.

She said: “The Trustees of the school are the Diocesan Board of Finance.

“The board has both a legal and statutory requirement to obtain market value from the disposal of the site. How this is obtained is not stipulated.

“Should the borough of Pendle express an interest in acquiring the freehold of the site this could be undertaken via a direct disposal to the borough.

“The proceeds from the sale of the site (less disposal costs) would be handed to LCC to invest.

into the replacement site.”

Education chiefs at county hall told Liberata that there are ongoing legal issues between the county and council and the diocese relating to a clause in the deeds of the York Street site.

If a request to transfer the school at nil value was made, Pendle Council would need to provide reasons to LCC’s children’s and young people’s directorate why the use for open space is the most desirable outcome for the site.