Abandoned Angel Road Junior School attracting drug users

Angel Road Junior School, in the north of the city, has fallen into disrepair after suddenly shutting three years ago when tiles fell from the ceiling.

Neighbours say that the “eyesore” has become a hub of criminal activity and have reported drug deals taking place.

Angel Road School has been empty for the last three years (Image: Newsquest)

They fear the situation will get worse unless action is taken soon.

Although Norfolk County Council owns the site, it's in talks with the Evolution Trust, who lease the building, to regain control and turn it into a much-needed SEND school.

This would see it provide education for children with special educational needs and disabilities. 

Victoria Trattles, 50, has lived in Angel Road for 21 years.

Locals have seen people dealing and taking drugs, using the outhouses and seemingly sleeping on mattresses (Image: Submitted)

She said: "My 13-year-old daughter has to go to a special school in Dereham because there aren't enough provisions in Norwich.

"So to have the school sat there empty, knowing it could be a SEND school, is frustrating.

"It's made worse because in the meantime it's just going derelict and become an eyesore.

"There's both drug dealers and users hanging around the back of it and there's always the risk of arson with these empty buildings.

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"People living here need to know what's going to happen, because it's just been neglected."

Labour county councillor for Sewell Ward, Julie Brociek-Coulton said it's about time something is done to the school (Image: Julie Brociek-Coulton)

Children were last taught in the Angel Road Junior School building in June 2021 and it has remained abandoned since then. 

Labour county councillor for Sewell Ward, Julie Brociek-Coulton, said: "There are homeowners living next to the site who have seen people dealing and using drugs.

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"There's a service entrance into the school, where they're climbing the fence so they can shoot up, using the outhouses and keeping mattresses on site.

The school has been tipped to become a special educational needs and disability (SEND) school if it goes back to the county council (Image: Submitted)

"There's a worry that when it gets colder they might try and break into the school and there's been plenty of other arson incidents around the city - it's an accident waiting to happen.

"The maintenance on the building shouldn’t be done just because people complain - it should be done regularly so the building doesn't just rot away.

"I would ask for the umpteenth time for the school to be used as a SEND school - it would be a blessing."

A spokesman for the Evolution Academy Trust said: "The negotiations about handing back the Junior school are currently sitting with Norfolk County Council, who are agreeing the associated lease for the Infant school with the ultimate owners of the Infant school land, the Great Norfolk Hospital Trust.

"Until these discussions have been concluded, we are committed to providing routine maintenance and security for the site. Together with Norfolk County Council we have contracted Norse Security to regularly patrol inside and outside the buildings, and if anyone sees something untoward, please contact Norse on 01603 894200 to report it."

The school has been described as an eyesore by people living nearby (Image: Newsquest)