Fears that Nairn's proposed new academy is already too small before a spade is turned
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NAIRN’S community councils have voiced concerns that the planned new academy for the town will not be big enough to cope with future demand.
Nevertheless they also conceded that they are faced with a fait accompli, with no chance of getting the current plans for the new secondary school reviewed.
The new academy is expected to cater for a maximum of 760 pupils, against a present school roll of 668 which is predicted to rise to 724 by 2028.
Highland Council has given an assurance that “future proofing” of capacity of the school is built into the plans, but Nairn West and Suburban and Nairn River Community Councils both remain sceptical given the amount of potential house building projected for the town.
They had wanted a review of the plan and accused Highland Council of a failure to consult.
The first open meeting of Nairn West and Suburban Community Council since the start of the Covid pandemic was attended by Nairn Provost Laurie Fraser and several members of the public.
Interim chairman of the community council, Alastair Noble, had attended a meeting of the Nairn Academy Stakeholders Group and told the meeting: “It appears they (Highland Council) have appointed Balfour Beatty as the contractors and we were told at the meeting from a government source it’s this building or nothing.
“This is very disappointing.
“We believe they are looking at a building on three storeys and we remain convinced that other sites, including Sandown, should have been considered.”
He told the Courier: “They also seem intent on relocating the library to the school and that just doesn’t work.
“It’s been proved at Wick where they got a new school that library user numbers collapsed by 50 per cent when the library was moved from the town centre to the new school site.
“Apart from it being inaccessible to many, it will result in a considerable drop in footfall in the town centre.
“And what about the future of the existing library? If it goes potentially sixty parking spaces will be lost as well, because the library building is leased to the council and the adjoining car parking spaces goes with it.”
Community council member Alan Hampson, who spent a lifetime in the construction industry, said Sandown on the outskirts of Nairn was the obvious site for the school.
“The council seem desperate to get Sandown for housing,” he said.
“But it makes more sense to demolish the academy, build housing on that site and a new school at Sandown.”
