Fresh blow for Ness Castle Primary School kids and parents as Highland Council say opening day delayed again for the £15 million Inverness development
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Parents and pupils awaiting the delayed opening of a new £15 million Inverness school have been dealt another blow.
Earlier this year, the planned October start date for classes at Ness Castle Primary School was put back to the beginning of the January 2023 term.
But a letter to parents and carers from Highland Council is now advising that the deadline will be extended to after the February mid-term break, with February 27 the first entry for children.
Currently, prospective pupils at the new-build school are being taught in temporary and spare classroom accommodation at Holm Primary School.
The new school, built by Kier Construction, was originally earmarked for an August 2022 opening.
Highland Council, who were approached for comment, previously blamed missed deadlines on “multiple factors affecting the construction industry”, which include labour and material shortages, and the inflationary impact on costs.
The latest significant blow was discussed at a meeting of the school stakeholder group on Wednesday evening where, it is understood, parents expressed anger and disappointment at the setback.
The letter to parents and carers states: “The Council's project team have continued to closely monitor the situation over the last two months and received regular updates from the contractor.
“Unfortunately progress on site has been further affected and we regret to advise you that the new building will not be ready for occupation from the start of the new term in January as previously advised.
“Due to the various factors that have been affecting the construction industry the
contractors have informed us that they will not be able to achieve the previously agreed dates and the handover is now further delayed until December 7.
“The council will only accept handover of the new building once it has been completed to our satisfaction and to the required standard.
“We have requested two exceptional school closure days for the move to the new building and these will be Thursday, February 23 and Friday, February 24.
“The building will therefore open to pupils on Monday February 27.”
The letter said that the bus service to transport Ness Castle pupils to Holm Primary would continue to be provided until the new building was operational.
