07/06/2017
Duncan Place as we knew it is no more. A building that needed some work suddenly became unsafe. Although CLD workers and clerical workers knew a year ahead of closure.
The woodwork room and drama studio have gone, as has the creative design for the new block that funding was put aside for in 2009. Councillor Gordon Munro came to events at the centre at least twice a year, but didn't argue for the funds to be released when Head of Children and Families Department, Mike Rosendale, ringfenced the monies.
Apparently Councillor Chas Booth is looking into how a building got into such a state, but will he be able to access the property log which detailed requests for maintenance or the emails asking for windows to be fixed. Or will he get access to the report that said that the community part of the building was structurally sound. Up until Feb 2013 neither Chas Booth or Adam Mcvey visited the building.
The new Duncan Place is only a shadow of what existed... for many of the the young people the building and what they used died.
Hopefully the building will serve a community use and the Community Access To Schools programme will create adequate space.
My guess is that the building will never quite be what it was, but will develop a new identity. It should not be forgotten that HMIe gave two groups at the centre an award of excellence...that Stevenson College ESOL provision and A.R.Ts Afternoon's Pulse of the Place. Both organisation continue to provide a quality service.
The Duncan Place Resource Centre that was... Was the 'Place To Be'.. If the new Duncan Place is a fraction as good as the old one... it'll do okay...
New centre users be careful of Councillors that want to use it to promote themselves and not what you need.... Good Luck
A view of what was meant to be...