Forres chosen for new school ahead of Buckie
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Forres has been picked ahead of Buckie as the priority for a new secondary school building in Moray.
Moray Council has voted this morning to chose replacing the building at Forres Academy ahead of Buckie High School.
Each are below the recommended national standards and the council wants funding to replace both.
However the Scottish Government's Learning Estate Investment Programme has insisted the council must prioritise one over the other.
Council officers compiled a report before today's meeting recommending elected members pick Forres.
Their report states the academy is one of only two schools in Scotland whose condition was rated as 'D' – poor.
By contrast, the high school is rated 'C'.
At today's meeting Jo Shirriffs, the council's head of education resources, said: "It's been made very clear to us by the Scottish Government that there needs to be a priority."
In reply to this, councillor Marc Macrae (Fochabers/Lhanbryde, Conservative) said: "The people of Moray have made it clear that our priority is both schools."
Cllr Graham Leadbitter (Elgin South, SNP) stated the council spent a lot of money several years ago on anti-flooding measures for Moray.
This, he said, had reduced the amount now available for replacing school buildings.
Cllr Leadbitter added: "I think pragmatism is the watchword for politics at all levels.
"If we don't go for the school that's listed as 'D', then my worry is that we might miss out on funding altogether.
"Having said that, we shouldn't be taking the foot off the gas in seeking a new school for Buckie as well."
Cllr Sandy Keith (Elgin North, Labour) said: "We're being put in an invidious position by the Scottish Government's rules where we are being asked to prioritise one school over the other.
"It's almost pitching communities against each other.
"Both Forres and Buckie deserve new schools."
Sonya Warren (Buckie, SNP) pointed out that the plan to build a new Buckie school costs more because it includes a swimming pool.
Therefore, she argued, it made sense to prioritise Buckie because it would result in receiving more funding.
However, officers pointed out that cash might not necessarily be made available to fund a pool.
John Cowe (Heldon and Laich, Independent) said: "We're all Moray councillors and we want the best for Moray.
"This is a choice that none of us want to make, but I'm afraid I go with the recommendation."
Cllr Paul McBain (Forres, Conservative) proposed picking Forres and was seconded in this by cllr Derek Ross (Speyside/Glenlivet, Conservative).
This defeated backing a move to back Buckie, proposed by cllr Warren and seconded by cllr Macrae, by 11 votes to four.
