Construction work on a new high school for Elgin has suffered another setback.
Councillors were told yesterday that the project is being held up by negotiations on where materials excavated from the site can be stored.
The handover date for the new campus, which was originally scheduled to open in October 2016, has been delayed to February 2017.
Critics fear that unless a solution is found rapidly, the cost of the project will rise beyond its current £28million budget.
Moray Council now has until the end of June to gain approval for the works from the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa).
Head of lifelong learning, culture and sport Graham Jarvis told yesterday’s meeting of the children and young people’s services committee the issue was out of the local authority’s hands.
He said: “We are awaiting response from Sepa before we can move forward with any financial plans.
“We need to receive confirmation on where we can store materials excavated from the new site, as if we have to transport them that will add thousands onto the cost of the work.
“The difference between storing materials on-site and storing them off-site could be as much as £500,000.
“That represents a big difference in the overall cost of the school.”
Elgin City South councillor John Divers, who spearheaded the campaign for a new high school in the town, urged officers to press the environmental agency for a response.
He asked: “What pressure is being borne on Sepa to give us an answer?
“This is holding the school back, and if we go beyond June without finalising costs they will doubtless go above £28million.”
Mr Jarvis assured the councillor that Sepa’s normal response times were between three and four months, but said planning officers had “stressed the urgency” to the body.
The appointed contractor has said the council has until Wednesday, June 24, to submit plans before it reviews its costs.
Council convener Allan Wright said he and council leader Stewart Cree would meet Scottish government ministers and a the matter with them directly next week.