Massive wave of schools investment announced by Highland Council but the local authority admits it does not have the cash yet for the work on Culloden Academy, St Clement's or Park, Dunvegan and Beauly Primaries
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Highland Council has announced that it plans to spend at least £54 million on new builds or major extensions on five schools – then admitted that it does not have the money to do it.
That has sparked allegations the local authority is trying "to get communities' hopes up and it is simply wrong and cruel to do that."
Members are due to discuss the plans for Culloden Academy, Beauly, Dunvegan and Park Primary Schools and St Clement’s School at next week’s full council meeting.
Two councillors recently claimed that between £8 million and £9 million had been found to complete a full extension to the already overcrowded Culloden Academy.
That came after it emerged the current budget was totally insufficient meaning that not even an entire new block could be constructed.
Yet now the council says there is “no approved capital budget provision.”
The same was said for Beauly Primary School whose budget has shot up from £3 million to £11 million, amid rising projections of school roll numbers.
Beauly is one of the oldest schools in the region and has some “seriously substandard buildings” and needs a build for a new nursery.
Dunvegan Primary is in a similar position being originally budgeted at £3 million, its costs are now £11 million for a new nursery, kitchen, dining and games hall.
New builds are being considered for both schools in a bid to make them more future proof but this would likely add to the cost again by £12 million to £15 million for both.
St Clements special school in Dingwall has been waiting 25 years but will have to wait another three for a new building costing more than £13 million.
Facilities there have been rated “C – (Poor)” for both condition and suitability and do not adequately support the delivery of education.
And Park Primary in Invergordon will need to be rebuilt entirely after a devastating fire last year, the estimated cost is between £15 million and £18 million.
Currently, pupils have been sent to other schools in the area, adding to pressures there and disrupting classes which have already been hard hit by Covid.
According to the council, there is no cash available at all Park Primary or for St Clement’s which also lacks a site.
Councillor Andrew Jarvie said: "Essentially this is two things. A list of projects which are funded and those that are not and the announcement is deliberated conflating the two to get communities' hopes up and it is simply wrong and cruel to do that.
"This is just a wish list. It is the oldest trick in the book to make councillors go away before an election and then afterwards some of these projects could simply be kicked into the long grass. I have lost count of the number projects that local communities have lost due to this exact practice."
Chairman of the Education Committee, Cllr John Finlayson, said: “Good facilities and a safe learning environment is fundamental for the education of all our young people across the Highlands and a key priority for this Administration.
“This funding is excellent news for parents and pupils and everyone in these five communities.
“Approval of such significant investment will be the culmination of long-awaited hopes and dreams of very many people in these towns and villages and by progressing these priorities, we enable other school projects to move forward and become a reality.”
Leader of the Council, Cllr Margaret Davidson, said: “The priority education projects are among a wide range of capital investments we are proposing.”
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