Parents and councillors label council school cuts 'a major embarrassment' and 'a shambles.'
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The fallout from a Highland Council move to drastically cut its investment in desperately needed new school buildings continues as parents and councillors label the situation “a major embarrassment” and “a shambles.”
Beauly Primary and Culloden are among the victims as officials want to slash more than £120 million from school investment in what amounts to a series of some of the biggest broken promises in the council’s history.
Other schools and projects affected by the cuts include St Clement’s Special School in Dingwall, Park Primary in Invergordon, Charleston Academy, Dunvegan Primary and two new schools – Stratton Primary and East Inverness Secondary.
Councillors will have to decide on Thursday whether they can back the capital programme which effectively puts to an end hopes that thousands of pupils will learn in adequate school buildings.
Leader of the Conservative group and Beauly resident Councillors Helen Crawford – whose main priority when elected in May 2022 was education – accused the administration of "sleepwalking" into the crisis.
said: “I am not surprised at all by the papers being presented. The SNP-Independent administration has been sleepwalking into this.
“Since being elected last May, it's obvious there has been no indication of intelligent planning beyond a reliance on LEIP. No plan B. No attempt to engage with the Scottish Government and repurpose capital.
“It's all about millions being spent on Academy Street, which is opposed by those who work in our old town. And millions being committed to active travel, which we all want but not when compared with our Highland school estate crumbling.
“The SNP and Independent Administration are 100 per cent responsible for setting the strategy, proper planning and tough decisions. They need to own this and sort it out.
“I’ve just been speaking with Beauly parents and they are beyond disappointed. It’s a major embarrassment that this council cannot provide a safe learning environment for our children and teachers. A shambles.”
Jeni Sheerin who sits on the Culloden parent council echoed some of those sentiments but also said the news came out of the blue.
She said: “This has obviously come as a huge shock to us, the staff, pupils, parents and community in the Culloden area. Disappointed does not even come close. We need to wait to hear what is said at the Committee meeting on Thursday.”
