A multi-million pound scheme to create new homes and community facilities on the eyesore site of a former village school is finally to get off the ground.

The Priory Meadow School at St Osyth closed ten years ago because it was no longer financially viable.

Since then, the buildings have stood empty and been continually vandalised.

It had been hoped to convert them for an alternative use but they are so badly destroyed they will have to be pulled down.

Now the St Osyth Almshouse Charity has helped put together a project which will provide it with about five new almshouses, nine new low-cost homes for Colne Housing, community facilities - such as a medical centre, a creche, public hall, drop-in centre - and educational uses - a car park and an open space area to be run by St Osyth Parish Council.

Alan Clinton, chairman of the almshouse charity, said it had been a very long haul since he got involved in 1998.

"The paperwork has been signed and work on demolition is due to start any day," he said.

The school, which was run by Essex County Council for children with emotional and behavioural problems, consists of 3.6 acres and it is hoped to get a major lottery grant to help with the scheme.

Parish councillor John White, who has been involved in negotiations from the start, said it was a great relief everything was now resolved.

Mr Clinton said the next aim was to find partners who would want to make use of the community facilities and help get them up and running.

Published Tuesday, February 19, 2002