Edderton community housing plans give ‘mothballed’ primary school ‘room for hope’
Councillor Jim McGillivray believes there is “room for hope” that Edderton Primary School could receive an “immediate” boost on the back of plans for community housing in the village.
In response to Highland Council plans to mothball the school due to low pupil numbers, Mr McGillivray said: “The needs of the current pupils and the wishes of their parents is of paramount importance.
“At the same time, I believe there is room for hope that more families can arrive in the area to provide an immediate boost to pupil numbers.
“There is planning consent for four Community Housing Trust and two Highland Council houses at Station Road, and these are going out to tender shortly.
“There is, in addition, current consent for two private plots with historic consent for at least another 30.”
The East Sutherland and Edderton councillor also believes with economic growth as a result of the Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport, the village population is set to grow, and that this will safeguard the school’s long-term future.
He added: “Edderton is a highly attractive village in which to live and very attractive for young families. The Primary School is of excellent standard.
“As economic activity at the Freeport swings into gear, I believe that Edderton will become a commuter village servicing the industrial jobs on the Cromarty Firth, and the population will grow accordingly safeguarding the long-term future of the Primary School.”
