Schools in line for major upgrade

council report reveals £150million to be spent on education and leisure facilities

By Emma Christie

Published:

About £150million will be invested in upgrading and replacing Aberdeenshire Council’s schools and leisure facilities over the next five years.

A report that went before the education, leisure and learning committee yesterday revealed about £68million will be spent on replacing the area’s primaries, £54million to replace secondaries and £3million for special schools.

In addition, more than £2.5million will be ploughed into improving libraries, about £1million for museums and almost £10million to improve swimming facilities.

The report said the cash was needed to ensure the education authority could provide “fit for purpose” and “eco-friendly” facilities which would also benefit the communities they were in.

It said the service faced the double challenge of providing new buildings as well as enhancing existing facilities to ensure they met current standards.

Last night director of education Bruce Robertson said the cash would come from a variety of sources, including traditional capital funding, developer contributions and the Scottish Government.

He said the “very significant” investment outlined in the report was “a very positive step forward” for communities in Aberdeenshire.

He added: “Obviously, in parts of Aberdeenshire we’re putting new roofs over new heads. There’s a significant growth in population.”

Funding has not yet been found to replace Mearns Academy and Kemnay Academy but Mr Robertson said appeals had been made to the government. He said it was also vital to maintain a high standard in the service’s existing facilities.

More than £10million will go towards enhancing the existing school estate, with primary schools receiving £5.1million and £6.2million to be invested in secondaries.

Mr Robertson, said the cash would help transform facilities in some parts of the network such as a “dreadful” hut at Auchterless Primary. Other essential works include the upgrading of toilets at Banchory Primary School and Inverurie Academy, while Clerkhill Primary School at Peterhead is one of several which will have CCTV installed.

Mr Robertson told members capital plans “always ebb and flow” but assured them there was “very real money” set against the outlined projects.