New vision for Culloden Academy unveiled at first public consultations draws a generally warm response as Highland Council is viewed as 'genuinely trying to listen to the local community' to build a 'smart local building'
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The first public consultations have been held to outline plans for the proposed new Culloden Academy to address overcrowding on the current site.
The ambitious proposals will see the old school demolished in phases to be replaced by a new set of buildings that can better accommodate the expanding roll.
The footprint of the school will be extended into an adjacent field where the first construction will take place, as illustrated by artist’s impressions.
The plans received a warm welcome from the chairwoman of Culloden Community Council, Catherine Bunn, who is also a member of the school’s parent council.
“I think the general feeling is that it is good, that they are definitely making progress,” she said. “There are a lot of user groups in the area with different viewpoints on the building of the project, but I think they are genuinely trying to listen to the local community and to the user groups and try and find a building that is fit for purpose and also will expand as the local community and the population expands.
“It is striking a balance between making something that is affordable and economically viable, but also making a building that children want to go into in the morning – they are proud to go to their building, wear the uniform and learn and are engaged with it. Going into a smart local building does make a difference.”
Councillor Andrew Jarvie, however, voiced reservations.
“This is just one part which will only slightly alleviate the overcrowding,” he said. “The temporary huts will remain and there has been little progress on the new school promised at Culloden West to cope with over 2000 houses there.
“I also have concerns about traffic at the new junction for the school, as it will be directly opposite the junction for 200 to 300 new houses in Balloch. I just don’t understand why this was settled as the best option, it makes no sense. When we have so many crowded schools and the need for a whole new secondary in the area it seems a complete waste of money to demolish and rebuild something at vast cost.”
