Anger as council tears down community arts hopes

DEMOLITION workers began tearing down a Victorian school in the heart of Penicuik yesterday, despite a campaign to buy it and restore it as a community arts centre.

Campaigners, who have raised 150,000 to buy the Jackson Lane School and collected a petition of 1,500 names, say Midlothian Council has ridden roughshod over the wishes of local people.

Chairman of the Penicuik Development Trust Roger Kelly said: "It is crazy for anybody to be pulling down a building when people say they want it."

A spokesman said the demolition of the school had been agreed at a full council meeting and that the building was deemed to be unsafe.

He said the building had been on the market for three years, but that it had not received a formal offer and business plan from the trust.