Councillors are poised to approve emergency funding in a bid to patch up a “damp and mouldy” secondary school in the Highlands.
Education chiefs have recommended “immediate” investment is made at Fortrose Academy after frustrated parents highlighted the “terrible condition” of some of the school’s buildings.
The parent council at the Black Isle secondary wrote to the local authority last month highlighting the “crumbling plaster and brickwork, persistent damp and black mould”, with the showers said to be “in the worst condition I have ever seen in a public building”.
Local MSP, Kate Forbes, also demanded action amid claims that some female pupils were refusing to use the showers at the school due to “awful” damp and mould.
The council’s education committee meeting on Wednesday is now expected to sanction the release of emergency funds to tackle the most pressing problems.
In a report to the committee, officials said: “A feasibility study was completed for the refurbishment of the older buildings and this led to an OBC (outline business case) being submitted last year.
“However, the condition of some of the areas in the school is giving cause for concern, and a further assessment of the most immediate issues is underway.
“It is likely that some capital investment will be required in the immediate future, and it is proposed approval in principle is given to progress a project to address these issues with funding allocated from the Life Cycle Investment budget.”
A further report is to be brought back by officials to the next meeting of the committee in June.
Responding to the move, parent council co-chairwoman Jo-Anne Pugh said last night: “We’re pleased that action is being taken, but we’re concerned about the long-term issues.
“The school definitely requires some investment. It will be interesting to see how much is done in the short-term.”
A £5.4million extension opened at Fortrose Academy in 2002, but some blocks have changed little since they were built in the 1960s.
The refurbishment and replacement of the older blocks was listed by the council among its “highest priority” projects last year.
