Contractor leading multimillion-pound Tain school campus build for Highland Council in Easter Ross urged to provide assurances over flooding concerns
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THE contractor behind a multimillion-pound new school build in Easter Ross is being asked for assurances over potential flooding issues affecting neighbouring residents.
The new 3-18 campus at Tain is set to replace a number of school buildings deemed no longer fit for purpose and to provide state of the art facilities for the town and its catchment area.
It is being built on a site at Craighill in Tain.
A community Facebook page has flagged a number of concerns.
“As a responsible contractor, we are delivering Tain Academy in line with regulations and all works have been carefully planned, with approval provided by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency where needed. We hold regular resident engagement events and our site team are on hand to answer any questions from local residents.”
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Alison Taylor, who lives nearby, posted: "So happy that the long awaited new Tain Royal Academy had passed the planning stage. Kier Construction was awarded the project. Unfortunately the site spring and field drains were bulldozed in October resulting in flooding. I spoke to the site manager to advise him drains had been installed in the 1980s due to this being an issue back then.
"Realised shortly after that near neighbours were having problems with muddy flood water running through gardens and down the road.What had been a damp ditch is now a constant muddy torrent with silt and rubbish entering the town drains.
"Hoping that they install efficient drainage otherwise the new High School will be flooded at the first sign of heavy rain."
She posted film footage and stated: "Kier needs to let locals know how and when this flooding will be dealt with."
Another resident, Neil MacDonald, flagged concerns about Moss Road posting that he has had water running through his garden. He has contacted Highland Council about the issue which, he said, had not been evident before the building works started.
It's understood that a site manager has been round to check the situation.
A Kier spokesperson told the Ross-shire Journal: "A resident raised concerns over water entering their garden, which we proactively investigated. We found the source of the issue was an old field drain, which has since been capped off.
“As a responsible contractor, we are delivering Tain Academy in line with regulations and all works have been carefully planned, with approval provided by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency where needed. We hold regular resident engagement events and our site team are on hand to answer any questions from local residents.”
Highland Council has been asked for a response.
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