Nairn Academy pupils quiz engineers about plans for new school
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Pupils and local MSP Fergus Ewing last week spoke to contractors from Balfour Beatty who are carrying out soil tests for assessing the foundations of the new building.
“We had a good chat with Julie Macdonald the headmistress, several teachers, and staff and also many pupils from S5 and S6 and younger kids on the school council,” said Mr Ewing, who represents Inverness and Nairn. “It was a lovely visit and everyone was looking forward to the new school.”
He added: “I think that there is a desire when the new building is completed – circa 2025 – to remember the enormous contribution that Councillor Tom Heggie made to the campaign both as a teacher there and then a councillor for five years to drive this project forward.
“Tom will be sorely missed in Nairn and has a track record of getting things done for the community.
“It’s over 20 years since I was involved with my fellow Highland MSPs in helping Tom and his elders secure planning permission for the project to extend and refurbish the Nairn United Reformed Church.
“That building has become an unqualified success and has been a great asset to the community.”
On the subject of the Nairn bypass, another cause championed by Cllr Heggie, Mr Ewing said he is sure the Scottish Government will take this forward that the section of the of the A96 from Inverness to Auldearn including the by pass will be funded.
“It is a matter of honour for me - we have promised this for the last seven elections -so we must deliver.
“The price tag will be enormous but every other part of the country has seen projects - major projects delivered - the Trams, the major and hugely costly motorway improvements in the west, the marvellous Queensferry Crossing , the Aberdeen peripheral route the Edinburgh by pass.
“It is now the Highlands turn to get some investment.”
Mr Ewing also stressed that any agreement between the Green Party and the Scottish Government about future road building projects does not include the Inverness to Auldearn section of the road.
“Unlike any of the rest of the A96 this stretch of road has gone through the whole statutory process.
“It has got permission following route selection and it is very far on in the overall process - a strict and already highly regulated legal statutory process and has already passed environmental tests.
“So the work on this campaign and indeed the completion of the dualling of the A9 from Dunblane to Inverness are the single most important constituency work I have and am doing alongside Drew Hendry.”
