Hopes of easing overcrowding at Culloden Academy are dealt a blow after calls by Historic Environment Scotland to further investigate the proposed locations of portacabin classrooms 'to safeguard against the loss of any artefacts from the Battle of Culloden'
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PLANS to ease overcrowding at the Highlands’ busiest school could be delayed if a call for archaeological studies in the area is heeded.
There was delight recently when it was announced that Highland Council is to borrow the money needed to move ahead with creating a long-called-for extension to the overcrowded Culloden Academy.
In the shorter term, however, an application has been lodged for permission to install six new portable buildings to be used as temporary classrooms at the school as a stopgap measure.
In a response to that application, Historic Environment Scotland (HES) has now said more work may need to be done ahead of any installation, to safeguard against the loss of any artefacts from the Battle of Culloden.
HES said: “The proposed development would involve ground disturbance, and this has the potential to affect archaeological remains if they survive within areas of proposed foundations or drainage.
“Fighting is not likely to have occurred in this part of the battlefield and although some historians have argued that many Jacobites were buried where they fell after fleeing the battlefield, the potential for archaeological remains associated with the battle here is likely to be low.
“However, it is important that a precautionary approach is adopted to archaeological remains because they could be highly sensitive, for example they could include human remains.
“For that reason, we recommend that areas that would be disturbed by development are archaeologically evaluated prior to determination of the application.
“This would allow any significant impacts to be avoided by altering the location or design of the proposed classrooms and their drainage, so as to avoid any sensitive remains.
“With this approach, we are confident that any impacts on battlefield remains could be satisfactorily addressed.”
The plans are likely to be considered and decided upon by council planning officers rather than being referred to councillors on the planning panel as installation of the temporary classrooms is not considered a major development.
