First turf cut for Lochaber High School sports centre

Work began today (Wednesday) on the first stage of a £15 Million redevelopment of  Lochaber High School.

Michael Foxley, Leader of The Highland Council and Councillor for Fort William and Ardnamurchan was joined by the two youngest pupils Bryan Campbell and Bronwyn Strachan while cutting the first turfs for the new sports centre development adjacent to the school.

Also present were Head Teacher Jim Sutherland, Depute Head Teacher Isobel MacKenzie, local Highland Council members and 50 pupil council representatives who will be some of the first pupils to make use of the new facilities.

Sixth year pupil council member Hannah Earnshaw said: “"Even though the sixth years are leaving school for good in just a few weeks, we are still excited about the changes which are starting to take place. We all have younger friends or siblings who will begin to benefit from the new sports and drama facilities planned. After hearing about the plans for so long, I'm glad to see the project start to manifest itself."

The first stage, costing £7 Million will be the development of a new sports centre that will provide first class indoor facilities for the school. These facilties will include, a 4-court sports hall, gymnasium, fitness suite, drama studio and new changing facilties. As part of the development a separate entrance to the faciltiy will be created that will include landscaping and an external performance venue that will have been designed in consultation with pupils. The building will use low carbon technology for heating and ventilation, in line with The Highland Council's commitment to sustainability.

This first stage will also see the demolition of further parts of the High School that are in poor condition, the refurbishment of classrooms in the 1950s building and provision of decant accommodation to make way for that work.

Leader of The Highland Council, Councillor Michael Foxley said: “I am delighted to see work commence on this major development of the school which is the first step in developing the High School into a 21st Century educational facility. It marks the end of a 4-year long consulation process with the school community that has enabled appropriate facilities to be developed and planned. The total cost of £15 Million represents the commitment of The Highland Council to invest in schools infrastructure and I look forward to this first stage being operational and ready for the next stages of development.

He added: “We have worked hard to make sure that this funding is available and I would like to especially thank Highland Council’s Estate Strategy Manager Brian Hemming and Head Teacher Jim Sutherland and their teams for their hard work in producing a realistic major refurbishment plan. As a Council we are determined to make Lochaber High school fit for purpose as a modern learning environment for our pupils.”

Jim Sutherland, Head Teacher said: “I am delighted that, after many years of planning, we are now seeing the beginning of the construction phase. The new sports centre will give Lochaber High – and the wider community – one of the best sports facilities in the Highlands.”

Dr Moira Tregaskis, Parent Council Chair said: “The Parent Council is delighted that building works are under way. This project will provide excellent facilities for pupils and staff alike and will help to improve, even further, the quality of learning at the school.”

The first phase of the redevelopment of the school for the Education Culture and Sport Service is being undertaken by Morrison Construction, with design management services being provided ‘in house’ by the Councils Housing and Property Service with Project Management being undertaken by Heery International Limited as part of the Housing and Property Service Management of the development.

Donald McLachlan, operations director for Morrison Construction, said: "We look forward to working with The Highland Council on the delivery of this contract which is a major step forward in terms of community and recreation facilities for the residents of Fort William and beyond.  With the Commonwealth Games coming to Glasgow in 2014, I hope that we might even see some of those gaining the benefit of these state of the art facilities going on to represent their country in a few years time."