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Highland Council agrees to spend £2m on modular units for closed Thurso High School block





Thurso High School is likely to have new modular classrooms by October, following a decision by Highland Council on Thursday.

The housing and property committee agreed to spend £2 million on new modular units, following the closure of the school’s ageing A block.

Caithness councillors welcomed the investment, but said a longer-term solution is needed.

Highland Council inspectors decided to close classroom block A last October when they found serious structural defects. The concrete frame on the three-storey 1960s building has come to the end of its natural life.

Block A at Thurso High School was closed in October after structural defects were found by inspectors.
Block A at Thurso High School was closed in October after structural defects were found by inspectors.

Speaking at the committee, Wick councillor Jan McEwan sought reassurances on the safety of other old buildings in the Highlands.

“We need to maintain our older buildings and get them inspected because if children had been in the school it would have been a total disaster situation,” she said. “Next time it might be dire.”

However, council officers clarified that it was exactly this round of inspections that had identified the problem in Thurso. Mark Rodger said the council is diligent in monitoring the condition of all its school buildings.

He added that there are three other schools in Caithness with the same construction, and the council has taken steps to mitigate any risks.

Back at Thurso High School, the council has surveyed most of the blocks on campus, with the games hall, kitchen and technical blocks still to do. Block A – now closed for three months – has been thoroughly investigated again and the council is looking at temporary stabilisation works there.

Thurso councillor Karl Rosie welcomed the funding for modular units, but said local members need to work together for a longer-term fix.

“Thurso High School has reached the end of its design lifespan so should we be surprised when faced with these decisions? I don’t think so,” he said. “We are now actively considering how to address it and we need to be innovative in our thinking and look to external sources.”

Progress on new school builds across the Highlands is looking precarious, with Highland Council having recently decided to cancel its capital budget meeting on February 1.

The council says it cannot make school investment decisions until it receives word from the Scottish Government about the next phase of Learning Estate Investment Programme funding.

Skye councillor Calum Munro thanked council officers for the “good dynamic and robust discussions” with local stakeholders. But he urged the council to keep the momentum up.

“It’s important as a council we keep progressing these projects, so we’re still in a position where we’re ready to go when the Scottish Government makes its decision,” he said.


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