Tornagrain not to get new primary school until 2030
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A LOCAL councillor has learned that Tornagrain will not be getting it's new primary school until 2030.
Concerns were raised at a meeting of Croyand Culloden Comunity Council about the impact bringing children to Croy Primary from Tornagrain could have on the school and members objected to plans by Highland Council to provide demountable classrooms in the playground at Croy to cope with burgeoning school numbers from the new town.
Housebuilding began at Tornagrain in 2016 and it now has 250 250 houses and 600 residents.
Chairman Bruce Strachan said: "If these classrooms are filled it will bring the school roll to nearly 200.
"We will lose half the playground and the existing football field in the village is a community play area."
Highland Councillor for the area Trish Robertson reporting to the CC meeting told members if Highland Council allow Croy Primary to reach 200 pupils it was and she had told them so.
"But the estates team find this an affordable option
"We were have to have a school at Tornagrain by 2026. Originally it was to be 2023 and now I am told 2030 and the capcity is now going up to 225.
"It takes four years to get a new school and requires a catchment consultation for a new school.
"For years there has been overcrowding at Culloden Academy and all the primary schools have temporary classrooms already.
"I'm flabbergasted to think they can expect to have over 200 pupils on that site (Croy PS)."
Cllr Robertson questions if building may have to stop at Tornagrain until the council finds the funding and gets the new primary school built.
"A school was promised to people buying houses at Tornagrain. And it's not even at the planning stage.
"We have 203 schools in the Highlands with the expected lifespan to keep up to date we would need to be replacing 7 schools per year.
"In this ward we already need two primary schools and a secondary"
She agreed with the Chairman that using demountable classroom units would remove half the playground for a much bigger school roll.
Highland Cllr Roddy Balfour commented: "Two hundred pupils at Croy Primary is just fantasising."
Andrew Howard, Managing Director of Moray Estates on whose land the houses at Tornagrain are being built said:
"We have already made a (developer) contribution to the costs for the school.
"As to the timing of delivery that is a matter for Highland Council.
"But we would like it delivered quicker than the council envisage. A new primary school would be needed when Tornagrain has 100 pupils.
"We expect it to reach that figure in 2025-26.
"The site is already prepared and we would like to get the school committed as quickly as possible."
A Highland Council spokesperson said: “The council’s revised capital programme that was approved in December 2021 includes a new primary school at Tornagrain to be completed by 2030/31.
“Based on this, a phased expansion plan has been developed to install up to 3 modular double classroom units at Croy Primary that would increase the capacity to a maximum of 8 classes. The first of those units was installed last year, along with the conversion of one of the classrooms in the main building to create a second nursery room.
“An extension to the kitchen and dining areas is also proposed – this would have been required in any case to provide additional capacity to deal with the expansion of free school meal provision. Improvements to the grass playing field are also planned, which will be of long-term benefit to Croy Primary and the wider community.”
