A group of parents who launched a crowdfunding campaign to keep their children’s school safe during the winter have been left needing council help after raising just 7% of the required total.
Ellon Academy parent council started the campaign to purchase snow-clearing equipment, after it became evident that existing equipment wasn’t fit for purpose.
The equipment had been used at the old Ellon Academy, which was three times smaller than the new school and community campus.
Plummeting temperatures last winter meant many playgrounds and surrounding school paths became treacherous and parents across the region were forced to pick up a shovel and pitch in.
In an effort to plan ahead for this winter’s anticipated cold temperatures, the parents decided to set a fundraising target of £8,300 in order to purchase an ATV vehicle, a snow plough kit and a towable gritter.
However, just a few days before the start of November, the group has raised only £610.
As the paths around the school are not part of the council’s programme of roads that it clears and grits, the school is responsible for keeping them safe.
Aberdeenshire Council has confirmed that Ellon Academy community campus will be attended to by their roads and landscape team during the winter weather.
A spokeswoman said that it will “look upon the campus’s car park and clearing a path into the school as a first priority area during the first day of significant snow fall.”
She added: “We will also assist volunteers who may wish to support these efforts by offering training and guidance.”
Parent council member Simon Ruddy said: “Fundraising has been slow, so we will investigate other routes.
“But in the meantime, the fact that the council have agreed to undertake initial snow clearing is pleasing as it means we won’t be in the same position as we were last year.”
Online donations towards snow-clearing equipment can be made at www.gofundme.com/snow-clearing-equipment.
For more details or to make an offline donation email ellonacademyfundraising@gmail.com.
