The manager of a Business Improvement District (bid) is interested to see how town centre firms will be supported following the approval of a new north-east school.
Manager of Rediscover Peterhead, Leslie Forsyth, said some local businesses “expressed concern” about Peterhead Academy moving from its current site on Prince Street to Kinmundy Road.
Mr Forsyth said: “When we were questioned as part of the feasibility study we did raise that concern.
“It’s been mentioned mitigating steps will be taken but we don’t know what those are yet so it will be interesting to see what the council has in mind.
“For some businesses in the town centre, the kids going there for lunch is a significant part of what they earn. We don’t know yet if that will vanish entirely or if they’ll maybe have ways to get into the town at lunch time.”
Mr Forsyth added: “It’s great to have a new school for Peterhead, but it’s something we’ll be keeping an eye on as things progress.”
The Education and Children’s Services Committee (ECS) approved plans for the new £71 million community campus last week.
The 1,400-pupil intergenerational facility will cater to those aged three to 18-years-old. The new campus will also feature new community and sport facilities.
Speaking at the online meeting, councillor Dianne Beagrie said the “community were highly supportive of this move”.
Mrs Beagrie said: “While we are aware of the challenges this brings to the town centre we all agreed that we are one together to make certain that mitigating steps are taken to ensure that reinvestment is made into that area and that not all the leisure and recreation facilities are moved from the town centre.”
Councillor Anne Simpson described the current academy building as being “by far the worst facility we have for secondary education in Aberdeenshire”.
Mrs Simpson said: “It’s another milestone on our road to get a replacement for Peterhead Academy and possibly other bits of the school estate.
“The community will be desperate to actually see us put a spade into the ground to see the academy starting but we can’t do that without this legal milestone of deciding that the relocation should take place to the preferred site which is Kinmundy.”
