A new school for Maryburgh and Conon Bridge

The new 260-pupil school, which will be funded by the Council’s Capital Programme, is estimated to cost £3.5 million and is expected to be completed in 2008/09.

A site for the new school has still to be determined. There will be a further report to the Council outlining site options, which will include the present site of Conon Bridge Primary School.

The Conon Bridge primary school site will be used as a comparator in taking into account the benefits of all other possible sites.

Education legislation requires the Council to conduct a statutory consultation on the choice of the site, once options have been identified.

Note: Local Councillor for Maryburgh, Angela MacLean moved an amendment to defer any decision on amalgamation until presented with a report setting out not only the comparative costs of an amalgamated school on the available or possible sites; but also (a) the cost of rendering Maryburgh fit for purpose and the necessary upgrading of Conon Bridge (b) the provision of a new school for Maryburgh and the necessary upgrading for Conon Bridge.

Councillor Douglas Briggs, Strathpeffer, moved an amendment that endorsed the proposal to amalgamate Maryburgh and Conon schools and a new school be built on the existing Conon site and that school transport be provided from Maryburgh to the new School until a Safer Routes to School exercise is completed.

The amendment by Councillor Briggs defeated that of Councillor MacLean by 46 votes to 24 but was defeated 35-29 by the motion by Councillor Andy Anderson, Chairman of Education Culture and Sport, to amalgamate the schools and seek options for the school site.