Committee Agrees Amalgamation of Brae Lochaber Schools

The Highland Council’s Education Culture and Sport Committee has voted 13-9 to recommend  the amalgamation of Roy Bridge Primary School with nearby Spean Bridge Primary School with effect from August 2007.

It also recommended that possible community uses of Roy Bridge Primary School be examined with the local councillor, Thomas MacLennan, and representatives of the community.

In reaching its decision, the committee dismissed the options of the status quo and creating a new replacement Roy Bridge Primary through a community initiative, with a subsequent lease back to the local authority, believing the risks to the council were significant.

Members took into account that the schools are only three miles apart.  They noted the  27-pupil Roy Bridge Primary is in a very poor condition while Spean Bridge, opened in 2002 as one of the first PPP schools in Highland, had excellent school and community facilities.  With a roll of 67, it had capacity to house 96 primary pupils and 50 nursery pupils.

Councillor MacLennan was unsuccessful in seeking a deferral of a decision for further information on the community initiative.