Breckland District Council could take legal action over former Swaffham grammar school site after police visit

Security measures could be introduced at the site of an old grammar school as a district council has warned it will take legal action.

The former Hamond’s Grammar School site in Swaffham town centre has been unoccupied for a lengthy period of time. It was reported that the building was acquired earlier this year.

However, at Swaffham Town Council’s full meeting last Wednesday, Breckland councillor Judy Anscombe informed councillors that extra security measures could be added to the building.

After police officers visited the building on Swaffham Market Place, they agreed that they would look into introducing more security measures.

It was reported on one visit that the door to the building was open.

“I know like a lot of us, you are fed up with hearing about this,” said Cllr Anscombe.

“Officers will look at the next stage of putting measures in place.”

Cllr Anscombe said that Breckland District Council’s next step will be to take legal action.

The empty 18th-century schoolhouse has previously been branded an “eyesore” of the town.

The former boarding grammar school was home to an antique shop for a time. The site was vacant and boarded up in 2009, and was suffering from decay and neglect.

The site has been subject to vandalism and arson attacks and the level of repair required is thought to have increased over the years.