Calls for 'urgent action' over future of derelict Dumfries school

There are calls for 'urgent action' to be taken over the future of an old school in Dumfries.

The derelict building, that was once Maxwelltown High School, has been empty since the summer of 2018.

Dumfries and Galloway Council say the site on Lochside Road is not secure and they plan to demolish it.

Cllr Graham Bell Dumfries & Galloway Council said: "We need to be beefing up the security. If you look around here there is signs saying there are CCTV cameras, but we really need to step up the security here.

"We certainly don't want a disaster on our hands here, if you look at this building here it's an absolute eye sore and I think the council need to maybe think about selling this site off for affordable housing."

Maxwelltown High closed in 2018 and students were moved to the new £28m North West Community Campus (NWCC).

However, the facility wasforced to shutshortly after opening after a number of incidents in which staff and pupils were hurt.

Secondary pupils were then moved back to Maxwelltown for some of their classes. Now the NWCC is open, the building is no longer in use.

Emergency services responded to a small fire at the campus on 6 October.

Police believe young people were responsible and now a ten-year-old boy has been charged.

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