Parents at an Aberdeen school have raised fears that their children will be left in a crumbling building while a replacement is built.
St Peter’s Catholic school on King Street has a “category C” condition, which is considered “poor”.
The council’s favoured plan is to eventually move the school to the existing new Riverbank building in Tillydrone, and undertake improvements, when a replacement is constructed.
The youngsters would move to the existing building around 2021/22, after the new Riverbank School has opened.
But parents have expressed concerns about the timescales involved.
Their fears were strengthened last week when the council’s education committee heard that only “statutory” repairs would be carried out in the meantime.
The committee voted to put four options out to public consultation before delivering a final verdict on the school.
The preferred option is to relocate the over-capacity St Peter’s to the current Riverbank school building in Tillydrone and undertake improvements there once the new replacement becomes operational.
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Other options include remaining at the current King Street site – essentially a “do nothing” option – or move to the current Riverbank site, without any improvements, or to move when “essential” work had been done.
Costs have not been released publicly.
Stephanie Brock, who sits on the parent council, raised concerns that the school’s playground particularly was in a poor condition, with children coming home from school hurt.
She said: “I was disappointed to hear at the committee that only statutory repairs would be carried out in the future, especially given the grade C listing.
“Even with the most positive outcome it could be as much as four years away before pupils move to Riverbank.
“The community has been pushed and pushed so we would like assurance that, if necessary, other repairs will be considered.”
Liberal Democrat education spokesman Martin Greig said: “I share the concerns of the parents.
“It is concerning that the roll for St Peter’s is dropping significantly and it is possible that the lack of action from the council.
“The school is already listed as being in a poor condition and clearly more should be done.”
An Aberdeen City Council spokeswoman said: “The proposal for consultation is for a state-of-the-art Grade A school as recommended by the education operational delivery committee.
“In the interim period any necessary works at the existing St Peter’s School site will be undertaken as and when required.”
