Parents of pupils at fire-ravaged Park Primary in Invergordon demand end to 'empty promises' from Highland Council over new school
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PARENTS of Easter Ross children left without a school after a devastating fire more than three years ago say they have had enough of "empty promises" on plans for a rebuild.
Park Primary in Invergordon was ravaged by fire in February 2020 and ultimately demolished following a second blaze a year later.
Since then, pupils have been accommodated in spare space and modular buildings at Invergordon Academy and are missing out on many of the regular activities taken for granted by their counterparts across Ross-shire.
Highland Council, the local authority responsible for education in more than 200 schools across the region, has been wrestling with soaring costs, uncertainty about Scottish Government funding levels and an ever increasing list of competing demands for new builds and renovation within an ageing estate.
But parents of Park Primary pupils are now seeking cast iron assurances for children who struggle to get regular PE lessons or special events such as school discos because of a lack of space.
Elizabeth McPhail, Park Parent Council chairwoman, said: "It has been three years since the fire and we have been fighting this whole time for the council to rebuild our school.
"We have had one face-to-face meeting in this time and very infrequent meetings with council members as to the progress of the rebuild. We have had empty promises and constantly pushing the can down the road with very little to show for it.
"As parents we are so disappointed and feel that we cannot trust the council. We also don't feel that we have very many options and it is a constant fight for even the basics for our children.
"Our kids go without regular PE lessons as there is no space for them. They miss out on school discos as there is no-where to hold them.
"They have had to change when they have assemblies as the academy sports hall was not available and the result is that the nursery is no longer able to take part in the assembly. There are many other small things that our children have to miss out on."
"As parents we are so disappointed and feel that we cannot trust the council. We also don't feel that we have very many options and it is a constant fight for even the basics for our children. Our kids go without regular PE lessons as there is no space for them. They miss out on school discos as there is no-where to hold them." - Elizabeth McPhail, Park Parent Council
Councillor John Finlayson, education committee chairman, said: “All project stakeholders were recently updated on progress with the school estate capital investment programme which includes Park Primary School.
“The council’s property design team are currently reviewing the new Park Primary Stage 2 design report and the project will then progress to Stage 3. This next stage will include the development of the detailed design and submission of the planning application for the new build.
“Highland Council agreed at a meeting in March that design and planning work would continue for all major projects at pre-construction stage, including Park Primary School, pending the review of the council's capital programme, agreed in December 2022, and the anticipated announcement from the Scottish Government on the Learning Estate Investment Programme Phase 3 funding bid.
"This course of action aims to ensure that any impact on the progress of these new school projects is minimised as far as possible.”
Local councillor Tamala Collier noted that no projects had been dropped from council plans at this stage and said that as a stakeholder she "will be updated when decisions are made in relation to whether the work on Park Primary is to continue".
She said: "Obviously, I would like to see Park Primary being a priority. At present, the kids of Park Primary are situated in portacabin-style building at Invergordon Academy. A lot of work has gone into the development of these and the staff have worked hard to ensure they are welcoming for the children and adequately equipped.
"However, there have been ongoing parking issues and [this type of building] is always likely to be less stable than a new building. I do think the children of Park need a place they can consider theirs.
"It's not always easy for children when they go to a school. However, where there is instability I would presume this may make things harder than they need to be. A new building would give the children a place to call their school and would also give them a place where they can build a sense of ownership which is more likely to see them look after it.
"What’s more, I am aware the children of Park did draw pictures of a new school and they do appear excited and are waiting eagerly for development to occur and while these matters will always be decided according to available funding, I do think it must be considered that these children are currently, in effect, schoolless."
Fellow Cromarty Firth ward councillor Molly Nolan said: "It is increasingly frustrating that the Scottish Government has not issued a decision on whether or not the Park Primary building replacement project will receive government funding.
"The pupils, parents and staff deserve a new school building at the earliest opportunity, and they deserve certainty around how it is going to be achieved. Whatever the outcome, I urge the Scottish Government to make a swift funding decision so that the Council can move forward with its Capital Programme review and ultimately deliver a new Park Primary school building."
Local SNP MSP Maree Todd: "“Understandably, parents, pupils and staff are eager to receive an update on the replacement of Park Primary School.
“I am aware that the evaluation process for Phase 3 of the Scottish Government’s Learning Investment Programme (LEIP) is still in progress, with the Cabinet Secretary for Education expected to provide an update this month. I’m pleased that the Highland Council, having listed Park Primary as a priority project, have agreed to proceed with the design and planning phase of the school as this will be valuable in moving the project forward.
“Along with the community, I want to see Invergordon have access to appropriate facilities and resources to support high-quality learning. I look forward to receiving an update on LEIP funding in due course.”
