A new-build housing development in Dundee is finally set to be consulted on a local primary school - years after it was first promised by council bosses.
The Western Gateway community on the city's westernmost edge has been calling out for a school as part of what they claim was a promised package when the homes were approved several years ago. Dundee City Council had previously resisted calls to build a school for the community, where hundreds of houses have been built and sold and hundreds more remain in the works.
Education bosses later reversed their decision, getting permission for a school approved in principle by city planners last year. Locals have welcomed the news of consultation after years of pressuring the council to give them the facilities they feel they deserve.
Bill Batchelor, chair of the Western Gateway Community group, told Dundee Live that residents had pressed the council to introduce bus services and to assess the state of walking and cycle paths. However their highest priority has always been to bring a school to the area.
He said: "Things are getting better, I must admit - we've got the subsidised buses that we fought to get, after pushing and pushing and pushing. It might only be eight services a day and none on Sundays but make no mistake, we are grateful for them.
"We've been working with children and families officers in the council for some time now and this consultation is the next major stage in getting a school. We're trying to work with them on what will happen between now and the school opening in August 2026.
"Children are still having to travel more than five miles to Ardler Primary School, which is the catchment school. The council wants primary one and two age children to get on a bus to go to school and that doesn't sit right.
"But we are speaking to the council about paths in the area for walking and wheeling, and with pressure from us they have commissioned a study of the path network to look at that."
The council is hoping to apply to the Scottish Government for 50% of the funding to build the school, with £5.7m more coming from "roof taxes" paid by developers - who are thought to have passed the fee onto homeowners.
As part of that application the authority is planning to ask the communities in and around the Western Gateway for their views on the school's catchment area and the facilities that the school could have for locals outside of teaching time.
Council bean-counters believe the Western Gateway will be home to almost 237 primary-age kids by the time the school opens in 2026, and expects pressure on nearby Ardler Primary to ease as a result. The move could pave the way for part of the older school to be converted into a community room.
The authority says the new school will add to the "strength and vibrancy" of the Western Gateway - despite having previously resisted calls to build the facility.
If councillors approve the consultation on Monday June 27, it is expected to run from August 22 until September 30, with public meetings and an online consultation process expected to form part of the process. Elected members will then make a final decision on the school in January 2023 after preparing a formal proposal with national education chiefs.
Councillor Stewart Hunter, convener of the council's children and families committee, said: “This is an important time in this project, and I would encourage as many people as possible to take part in the consultation.
“Their views will inform a vital part of the process and I look forward to seeing the reports which follow.
“This will help us to put together a strong case for funding to the Scottish Government.”
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