Chuter Ede demolition: Bulldozers set to move in on former South Shields school to tear down crumbling buildings

The Chuter Ede Community Centre is currently based in buildings at Galsworthy Road in the Biddick Hall area and hosts a range of services, including training courses, youth groups, activities for people with learning difficulties and health schemes.

It also serves as a venue for the council’s West Shields, Cleadon and East Boldon Community Area Forum which allows the public to feed back on local issues.

South Tyneside Council has submitted a notice to demolish some outdated buildings on the site, including two large wings of the central building, a standalone prefabricated classroom and an additional building to the rear.

A planning application states the buildings are “surplus to requirements and are in a poor state of disrepair” and are a health and safety risk.

Demolition works are expected to run from April to August 2020.

A council spokeswoman added: “At present, part of the former Chuter Ede Education Centre is being used by the Chuter Ede Community Association.

“The community association does not need the entire building and, as such, there are a number of unused areas.

“The council, in consultation with the community association, has decided to demolish these areas to reduce unnecessary spending in relation to maintenance, energy usage and rates.

“This will allow the council to better utilise available funds towards the areas of the building that are currently in use.”