Uncertainty over the future of a Moray secondary school could put people off moving to the town, and send house prices plummeting, residents have warned.
Milne’s High School in Fochabers is currently being considered for closure, and Moray Council also want to relocate Milne’s and Mosstodloch primaries.
The proposals are currently out for consultation, and now the Fochabers Village Association have lodged a strongly-worded letter of objection – warning the impact of removing schools from the area would make it less attractive to potential homeowners.
Gordon Christie, chairman of the association, wrote: “Such a move would be catastrophic for the villages and the surrounding area, ripping out the heart of the east of Moray.”
“This is causing substantial distress and uncertainty within the community.
“We have already seen the effect with fewer home buyers looking at property within the area as they think there could be a possibility of Fochabers without a secondary school.
“The three schools are an essential part of the social fabric of the communities in which they function and at the same time provide excellent educational standards for our children.”
Mr Christie also claimed the move would have an impact on events such as the Fochabers Gala, Speyfest and the Fochabers Fiddlers which are run by local volunteers, including children from the threatened schools.
He added: “It is unthinkable that our Moray Councillors would allow a proposal such as this to happen.”
Last night a spokesman for Moray Council confirmed the letter to the authority’s chief executive Roddy Burns had been received.
He said: “We can confirm that we have received correspondence from the Fochabers Village Association which will be considered along with the many other representations that have been submitted on the sustainable education review.”
Moray Council contracted Caledonian Economics to carry out a sustainable education review on all the schools in Moray after it emerged £70million would be needed to bring existing schools up to standard.