Dalbeattie school cash award row

Sep 30 2009 by Jackie Grant, Dumfries Standard Wednesday

DALBEATTIE High is to be one of the first schools rebuilt under a £1.25 billion programme announced by the Scottish government this week.

Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning Fiona Hyslop made the announcement on Monday.

Every local authority area across Scotland is expected to benefit from the first phase of the school building programme which sees £800m of funding from the Scottish Government and £450m from local councils.

Galloway and Upper Nithsdale MSP Alex Fergusson gave a cautious welcome to the news, but said he “sincerely trusts” that Dumfries and Galloway Council will be able to find the rest of the money required so that Dalbeattie can enjoy the best possible facilities alongside other communities, such as Thornhill, Castle Douglas, Kirkcudbright and Stranraer, where new schools are currently under construction.

And Dumfries and Galloway Labour MP Russell Brown said the announcement is a “major let down”, adding: “We have waited two years for the SNP to come up with their so-called replacement for PPP and all we get is a pathetic announcement that the Scottish Futures Trust will build a handful of new schools across Scotland and even then it won’t be in this Parliament.

“Whether people agreed or disagreed with PPP, the reality is it has built hundreds of schools across the country including seven here in Dumfries and Galloway and direct Government funding has built three others. The fact that we are seeing just one area in the region benefit from a new school, and not until after the next Scottish Parliament election, proves once again that our region is being forgotten by the SNP Government.”

Abbey Ward Councillor, David Stitt, who was Chairman of Dalbeattie Parent Teachers Association, has questioned whether the investment in Dalbeattie High School will ever happen.

He said: “The high school, and the primary too, are in a shocking state and desperate for investment. It is just disappointing that this money won’t be forthcoming this Parliament. And that’s if the money ever comes at all, given that the council will be required to find one third of the cash to pay for the school.Š

“There will be a lot of people in Dalbeattie very sceptical over whether it will ever really happen given the timescale, and the fact that the Scottish Government won’t provide all the funding, but I will be fighting to make sure we see the new school built as soon as possible.”

However, Councillor Ivor Hyslop, the leader of Dumfries and Galloway Council, said he recognises that it will be a challenge to find the additional funds needed to deliver a new school for Dalbeattie, but that he looks forward to working with fellow councillors to explore how they can meet the challenge and include it in strategic capital plans.