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Coun Matt Palmer at Burley Grange

Burley's former college has been put on the market - two years after closing its doors.

A For Sale' sign went up outside The Grange' last week rekindling hopes that the Grade II-listed building could still be retained as a community facility.

It is something of a landmark in the village and closed its doors in July 2006 when its owners Bradford College decided to withdraw adult education courses in Burley.

Despite protests from villagers, the college facilities were lost but Burley Parish Council has spent the past two years continuing with its bid to retain the building for local use.

Members are now liasing with a mystery property developer to try to retain part of the building - which could be used by community groups and organisations throughout the village.

Parish Clerk Jo Griffiths said: "We knew that the sale was imminent so we were not at all surprised when the boards went up.

"We have been waiting for it to come back on the market. We will be looking at it again with developers so the community can use part of it.

"There are a number of groups in the village that would welcome the opportunity to have a room in that building."

The Grange, originally a stately home, was first handed over for community use in 1905 when it was used by Burley Urban District Council.

It later transferred to Ilkley Urban District Council in 1937 when the two merged. In 1974 the building transferred once again, this time to Bradford Council during a local government reorganisation and was eventually given over to Bradford College in 1986.

The building, which is spread out over three floors, is close to the heart of the community and villagers are keen to retain it for local use.

Wharfedale Councillor Matt Palmer said he was hopeful that the building would be returned to the community.

He said: "I have spoken with college principal Michele Sutton and she has assured me that a bid from the Parish Council will be positively received. I am hopeful that if the Parish Council pursues its bid then there remains a possibility for community use.

"The Parish Council is doing its best to retain the building and we hope that the college will reciprocate by giving the Parish Council bid preference over commercial bids.

"This building has been used by the village one way or another for 100 years and it was only an accident of history which passed the building into the hands of the college.

"At the moment, unfortunately, that's where we are, but that building belongs in truth to the people of Burley - the people it was given to in the first place.

"It is dreadful that we are in a position that the college has the right to sell it but hopefully we will retain what we can of that facility."

Coun Palmer added that he hoped to see adult education provision returned to Burley.

He said: "I would like to see adult education returned to Burley. It is a crime that that provision was taken away from Wharfedale in recent years - it was a good provision that gave people an interest and got elderly people out into the community.

"It would also be nice for the Parish Council to use it as a permanent base - it was first given to the Urban District Council in Burley and I think it would be fitting if the parish council were to use it once more."

It is estimated that The Grange could fetch a six figure sum. Estate Agents DTZ, who are based in Leeds, have advertised the building as For Sale by Private Treaty' which means that there is no definite deadline attached to offers.

A spokesman for the firm said there was no guide price attached to the building because it was being sold by a public body.

A spokesman for Bradford College said: "Bradford College has decided to sell Burley Grange as part of its wider accommodation strategy. The decision comes after a long period of working with Burley Parish Council to develop a financially viable proposal which would allow Burley Grange to remain in public ownership or public use but none was found.

"The College, as expected, is required to ensure best value in any property transaction so cannot simply give up the property or accept an artificially low receipt."

6:58pm Wednesday 16th July 2008

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