Planners give green light for new North Uist school 1/9/14
Planning permission for the new North Uist school has been granted by Western Isles Council.
The centralised facility to serve all of North Uist and Berneray will be constructed on the existing Paible School site at Bayhead on the west side of the island.
It will include a nursery, floodlit multi-
To combat the risk of flooding the floor of the school will be heightened above potential water levels. Gabion baskets filled with excavated material from the site will create terraces flanked by railings.
The controversial demolition of the old head teacher’s house which is used a community facility will proceed, councillors affirmed.
The old house is currently used for various community and business activities including the local development company, polling station, meeting place for townsfolk and pensioners as well as a hairdresser’s.
It is also used as a GP surgery and the community has already raised the difficulties elderly or infirm patients face for the alternative 30 mile round trip to see a doctor or to pick up a prescription.
The Comhairle heard a representation in the name of Hector Macaulay.
While welcoming the new school, Mr Macaulay expressed the community’s concerns over the need to knock down the community building.
He said there appears to be plenty of room to accommodate the premises and build play areas.
He said it would place extra stress on vulnerable patients facing a long journey to visit a GP surgery.
The council’s stance is the building requires to go to provide safe car parking and sports facilities all on the same side of the road.
Similar in design to Balivanich School, the new facility will accommodate around 75 children.
Carinish, Lochmaddy and Paible primary schools will close and pupils transferred to the new campus.
Final costs are yet to be firmed up but could be over £8 million. The council has earmarked £6.5 million from its own funds and anticipates getting £2 million from the Scottish Government.
The building contract was awarded to one of the UK's largest privately owned construction companies, Willmott Dixon which work in partnership with Robertson’s in Scotland which promises to employ local businesses and people.
Architects are 3D Reid who were the lead designers of the other new Western Isles schools and own the copyright of the design preferred by the council.