New figures have revealed the cost of an Aberdeenshire school soared by £1.4million following its much-anticipated opening last year.
The £23million Mearns Academy community campus, in Laurencekirk, opened in August but a series of issues, such as problems with its water supply, contributed to a large rise in costs.
Additional bills for IT equipment, road upgrades and “learning walls” also meant Aberdeenshire Council’s spending on the site surged to almost £25million.
Following the official opening, the water was deemed undrinkable twice and the 640 pupils were forced to resort to coolers and bottled supplies.
The cost of fixing the problem is listed among a catalogue of “snagging issues” in a report to the council’s policy and resources committee, which meets today.
Mike Robson, chairman of the Laurencekirk Development Trust, said some of the difficulties were having an impact on students’ education.
“I know they hadn’t been able to fulfil all of the things they anticipated doing, and I know there are problems with the heating system either being too cold or too hot,” he said.
“The school has been well used, but it could be better. These snagging things have been impacting on the pupils themselves.”
Mearns councillor George Carr said IT equipment, including wi-fi and I-pads for pupils, would account for a large part of the spending.
He added: “I do know that a lot of people were trying quite hard to get the best facilities there in terms of IT and so on.
“On new buildings there are always issues that arise. The water issue has been resolved but there are things that are still ongoing.
“Mearns Academy is a fantastic school, but it is a bit disappointing that there have been these teething problems.”
Council leader Jim Gifford said: “It is disappointing when any project goes over budget but there are quite a few reasons for what has happened with Mearns Academy.
“A very high percentage of all that the council does comes in under budget.”
He added that the figure of £1.4million was still being “negotiated” with contractors, Lend Lease, and that other council projects remained on target.
An Aberdeenshire Council spokeswoman said: “Negotiations are ongoing with the main contractor to secure a final value for the works.”