£20m new schools plan for Wick
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TWO new primary schools are set to be built in Wick at a cost of almost £20 million.
But the move – confirmed this week by the Highland Council – would result in the closure of the town’s four primaries – Hillhead, North school, Pulteneytown Academy and South school.
Under the proposal, which is to go out to consultation, two new purpose-built schools would be constructed – one on land at the North school and the other on the site of the existing high school playing field site and Pulteneytown Academy.
The former would cost an estimated £10.5m and would cater for approximately 390 pupils from the amalgamated Hillhead and the North schools. The latter would accommodate 340 pupils from Pulteneytown and the South school at an estimated cost of £9.225m.
The total bill for the two primaries would be £19.275m and, with £37m earmarked for a new community secondary school in Wick, it would take the total spend on education projects in the town to nearly £57m over the next five years.
Commenting on the plan Wick councillor Bill Fernie, who is the chairman of the education, culture and sport committee, said he thought people would be “pleased” with the proposal.
“This would mean that Wick would have some of the best educational facilities in the Highlands. A few years ago you would not have expected the town would get two brand-new primary schools and a new high school,” he said.
Mr Fernie explained the new facilities would be constructed over the next five years. One new primary would be built in 2015 and the other the following year with work on the new high school due to get under way next summer and be completed by 2014.
He also stressed there will not only be an educational benefit to the area but an economic one as well.
“While education is at the forefront of the proposals, there are many additional pluses for the area in helping to ensure that it goes a long way to promote regeneration. These proposals are truly transformational and I am sure will be a huge attraction for potential businesses and employees if they choose to relocate to Caithness.
“Such a huge investment goes a long way to providing a boost to the area with all the spin-offs for jobs and economic activity that will result across many sectors of our local economy,” said Mr Fernie.
He pointed out if no suitable council use can be found for the four primary school buildings they could be put up for sale or demolished.
Fellow Wick councillor Gail Ross said: “Three new schools in Wick over the next five to six years is tremendously good news for not just parents and children in the area but for the wider community as well. This is a welcome boost to the economy in the Far North and I look forward to seeing the plans and the work actually beginning.
“We have to make sure now that the builds are kept within budget and delivered on time. We should also make sure that the existing buildings are dealt with appropriately and not left to fall into disrepair.”
Eric Baijal, the chairman of the South school parent council, said: “I would certainly welcome new schools being built as opposed to trying to cram children into outdated buildings. We look forward to further engagement with the local authority to get the best school that can be made available for our children.”
He added: “We asked for two new schools to be built in Wick and would be very happy with that. If that improves educational provision in Wick it has to be a good thing. It could have been a whole lot worse.”
Dr Ewen Pearson, who chairs the Hillhead parent council, yesterday said the investment in the town would be welcome but wondered why only the North school was considered as a site for the new primary.
He also wanted to know what size the two new schools would be and if there would be capacity for additional pupils should Thrumster or Keiss be closed after the current year-long moratorium on rural school closures ends.
As reported online at www.johnogroat-jour?nal.co.uk on Wednesday, a report will go before the education, culture and sport committee on Tuesday when councillors will be asked to give approval for a statutory consultation on the proposal.
It would run from Monday, August 15, until Friday, September 23. Public meetings would be held in the Assembly Rooms in Wick at 7pm on September 6 regarding the Hillhead
