Way ahead for new school 25/3/14
An important step ahead for a new state-
The Scottish Government has given the green light to close the three existing schools to pave the way to build a modern centralised primary school campus.
Official consultations held to formally close Carinish, Lochmaddy and Paible Schools couldhave been challenged of the process was thought to be lacking.
However, the Scottish Government confirmed it does not intend to call in the Comhairle’s decisions to shut the schools.
Similar in design to Balivanich School, the new facility will accommodate around 75 children.
It would be built on the existing Paible School site on the west side of the island.
This will be the third new primary school to be built in the Uists in recent years.
Primary schools were opened at Daliburgh in October 2012 and at Balivanich in August 2011.
Education chair Catriona Stewart said: ”This is good news for North Uist and for the Western Isles. I am glad that the Comhairle’s decision of 13th February to implement the closure of the three schools has been considered and reviewed by Scottish Ministers who have found that the Comhairle has met the terms of the 2010 Act.
“The Comhairle can now proceed with the work required to deliver a new school on the preferred site at Paible.”
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.
Final costs are yet to be firmed up but could be between £7 to £8.5 million. The council has earmarked £6.5 million from its own funds and anticipates getting £2 million from the Scottish Government.