‘What is not to like about this?’

Ross-shire’s market town has been earmarked by Highland Council for investment as part of a £2 billion programme and it could lead to two new buildings for St Clements and Dingwall Primary.

Dingwall and Thurso were highlighted in the Highland Investment Programme programme as examples of where investment could make the “council’s money work harder”.

Next Thursday, the full council will be asked to back the plan as the local authority wrestles with its two biggest investment and reputational headaches: roads and schools.

The plan does not solely focus on roads and schools – instead the council aims to find a long-term solution to its infrastructure issues through Community Points of Delivery, or Community PODs.

St Clement’s – which was due to move to get new premises in the west of the town – is now being replanned with consultation to be restarted before a final decision can be reached.

Now it is hoped that it can be located next to a rebuilt Dingwall Primary at a cost of £40 million to £50 million but both schools would retain their separate identities as well as their head teachers – something St Clements parents always wanted.

But Dingwall is not the only beneficiary.

Invergordon is set to get a plan to account for a new secondary and two new primary schools worth £50 million to £60 million. And not before time as it is now almost four years since the Park Primary fire.

And Alness is scheduled for three primary schools for around 600 pupils plus a nursery with a cost range of £40 million to £50 million.

They will be part of the development of the schools and the Community PODs in Phase One which is the first decade of investment, the catch is that it is really only likely to be delivered in the second half of that period so the wait continues.

Avril Roberston of St Clement’s Parent Council said she was tentatively hopeful but it did mean the wait continued, saying: “We of course welcome the proposal for new significant investment in St Clement’s and the wider plans for Dingwall.

“But we need to get concrete details of what is proposed. At the moment we have been told that St Clement’s would be located near a rebuilt Dingwall Primary but still be a separate school with its own headteacher.

“For the moment we are okay with that as a proposal but we need to be certain that the new all under one roof policy is not taken to mean schools as well, we also want more detail on the short-term additional enhanced or specialist bases.

“That the council is finally paying attention to the school is very positive and we would be delighted to work with them to do anything that can expedite the process and finally get a new school.

“I have been campaigning for a new-build school for nine years, I know my child will not see the benefit of it but it is so important that we keep fighting, we have a responsibility not to let this die.

“Ultimately, this announcement is welcome but the fact remains that every single day until the moment years in the future when the kids of St Clements walk into a new school on their first day this council is failing the pupils.

“That is a point that can not be ignored despite the good news.”

Dingwall and Seaforth Council Graham Mackenzie asked rhetorically: “What is not to like about this? We were battling to try and get St Clements and were told we wouldn’t get one in the next five years. And now we are told we are getting not one new school but two.

“It is coming to council and I am sure it will be agreed because I believe this programme will make people’s lives a lot happier, not least dealing with the council depot in Dingwall and huge investment in roads as a result.”

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