Resurrection at Lynn's Plaxtole House
Just weeks after Plaxtole House was wrecked in a £150,000 vandalism spree it is back, and even better than before.
As reported in the Lynn News at the time Plaxtole House in Goodwins Road – home, school and lifeline for students with special needs – was all but destroyed by vandals. The building provides a day and night facility for all disabilities.
Three months on and the building is back to being fully functional. Students and staff have been overwhelmed by the amount of support from the college, community and private contractors.
"The students have come up to me and said how wonderful the whole place is now," said Mrs Lesley Tizzard, programme manager for Plaxtole (foundation).
Mr Jim Hathaway, head of property services at the college, was one of many who helped with the massive clean up in the summer.
"Entering every room was depressing, yet now it's up and running it's a very positive outlook," he said.
Even though the figures are still being calculated the property services team at the college, who headed the clean-up operation, believe it has cost as much as 150,000 to clean, repair and replace all that was damaged.
Mr Hathaway said at one point staff wondered whether it was close to being written off as they could not imagine at the time that it would be functional again.
Despite that, those involved have worked relentlessly.
During the fateful weekend the local community and private firms were offering financial and hands-on help to repair the Victorian centre back to its original state.
Mr Ian Stevens, college maintenance supervisor, followed by a team of college caretakers and a six-man crew from Initial Cleaning (a private firm which works with the college) worked for four days to remove the mess. Then the actual repairs began, including new electrics, ceilings, floors, windows and furniture.
The IT suite, which was damaged beyond all recognition, has been replaced by new, faster computers with Internet access. The residents' bedrooms were all replaced due to the damage to beds and wardrobes.
The residential centre now looks stunning, with new works from the students' decorating rooms. Old furniture and household goods which were destroyed have been replaced.
Two Lynn youths, aged 15 and 12, admitted burglary and criminal damage at Plaxtole House along with other offences of damage and disorderly behaviour. The 15-year-old also admitted endangering railway users. Both were sent to detention centres.
A 17-year-old from Gaywood involved in the Plaxtole House damage was given a ten-month referral order and a 15-year-old Yarmouth youth, who also involved, received a nine-month referral order. They will attend management sessions with youth offending teams.
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Weather for King's Lynn
Sunday 27 May 2012
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Temperature: 9 C to 26 C
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