Security measures to be put in place at former Hamond’s Grammar School site in Swaffham

There could be light at the end of the tunnel for a derelict school site in town as security measures will be added to the building.

The former Hamond’s Grammar School site in Swaffham town centre has been unoccupied for a lengthy period of time.

A meeting held at Swaffham Town Council last month heard that extra security measures could be added to the building to avoid break-ins.

Breckland councillor Judy Anscombe said if not, the council’s next steps would be to take legal action.

On one previous site visit, the door to the building was open.

However, at Swaffham Town Council’s full meeting on Wednesday, Cllr Anscombe updated the council that some security will be put in place.

Cllr Anscombe said: “An agent visited the old school. There has been a lot of too-ing and fro-ing to move things forward.

“Securings will be put in place on the ground floor and upper doors and to the gym blocks to ensure nobody has access to the roof. Hopefully things will move forward.”

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.