Work to build a “fantastic” £12million replacement for a packed north-east school is on the home stretch.
Pupils, teachers and councillors gathered yesterday for a ceremony to mark the progress of construction work at Turriff’s Markethill School.
The new facility on Meadowbank Road will have a capacity for 505 schoolchildren, plus 50 nursery pupils, and is scheduled for opening in August 2017.
The current school has space for 360 youngsters and a roll of 469.
Councillors were forced to put a cap on the school roll of the existing Markethill School in 2014 before it spiralled out of control.
The primary will have 18 classrooms, a library, a gym with courts and changing rooms, a dining hall and additional needs facilities.
Aberdeenshire provost, Hamish Vernal, was among the attendees at the site yesterday.
He said: “It is a fantastic site out at the far end of Turriff. It was a really nice event and some of the children were there.
“We are very, very pleased with the development, it has been a long time coming.
“The school is not just a school – you have got a 50-place nursery, you have got performance space and, obviously, you have 18 classrooms built for 505 pupils on a brownfield site.
“Houses have been approved at the far side, so it will not just be stuck on the edge of town.
“There are seven-a-side, all-weather and grass pitches. The sports facilities, both inside and outside, and the changing facilities are capable of being used when the school is not functioning as a school.
“All in all, we are absolutely delighted.”
Turriff and District councillor, Anne Robertson, added: “The contractors have been on site now for a few weeks and are, progressing extremely well with the work, which is welcome.
“The existing Markethill School has been under a bit of pressure for many years. This is something that has been required in the local community.”
Chairwoman of Aberdeenshire Council’s education, learning and leisure committee, Alison Evison, said: “It is great to see another new school under way in Aberdeenshire as part of our exciting school estate strategy.
“It will be a real asset to both the pupils and the wider community.”
Morrison Construction began construction work on the new primary in March.
