Plans to fork out as much as £75 million to tackle a school capacity saga in Renfrewshire have been branded an “expensive sticking plaster”.
Council chiefs are planning a second primary school for Dargavel Village and an extension for the associated Park Mains High School.
It has been revealed the newbuild for 800 pupils could cost between £42m and £45m while a secondary school expansion from 1,600 to 2,000 could set them back between £27m and 30m – a stark situation expected to require “prudential borrowing”.
The education and children’s services policy board met to consider proposals last Thursday but Councillor Gillian Graham, Labour group education spokesperson, cast concerns over the project.
She said: “We’ve got before us a report that lacks figures and measurables and asks elected members to agree a spend of £75m with no evident options appraisals.
“On projects such as this, we’d expect to see a masterplan which would take the overall new community, break it down according to the nature of where and when the houses are being constructed and plan the necessary educational infrastructure accordingly.
“I’ve got serious concerns that what we have in front of us is a highly expensive sticking plaster approach that could well lead to more problems down the line when the complete scale of the development emerges.”
Her group brought forward an amendment which called for the Scottish Government to expedite the new school and “mediate” discussions between the council and landowner BAE Systems over its location.
It also wanted the government to provide funding to “alleviate the cost to Renfrewshire taxpayers” and asked for a strategic masterplan with an options appraisal about wider education provision to be produced.
Meanwhile, the Conservative group requested a new high school at a site “in or around” Bishopton.
However, an SNP amendment – which said planning capacity for Park Mains should be capped at 2,000 and future demand for the catchment considered as part of the school estate management plan – passed instead after a vote.
But Councillor Graham labelled the planned extension a “short-term solution” and said a newbuild high school should at least be explored.
Explaining why he couldn’t back the Labour amendment, SNP council leader Iain Nicolson said he “took exception” to the use of the term “mediation”.
He said: “I know for a fact our council officers are having very positive discussions with the landowner. I don’t know where you think you have that information that that’s not happening or it’s broken down in some way.
“My understanding of the term mediation is that somebody steps in to resolve an issue. My information is there are very positive discussions ongoing just now.
“This lack of faith in our council officers is becoming a bit wearing, to be honest with you.”
The debacle emerged in November when it became clear the existing Dargavel Primary School, which opened the previous January, wasn’t big enough to meet the needs of its growing catchment area.
Initial calculations, dating back to around 2017, projected the roll wouldn’t exceed 430 pupils. Analysis from consultant Edge Analytics recently predicted the number of pupils could peak at 1,131 by 2033 – but also said space may be needed for as many as 1,500 if demand was to continue long-term.
Council bosses apologised for the blunder and six modular classrooms – with room for up to 198 pupils – will be introduced at the Arrochar Drive site, which currently has a maximum of approximately 530 if necessary, over the summer.
Despite this measure, it has been acknowledged demand is “likely to exceed” the increased capacity of the existing school as early as August 2024.
This would create a requirement for the council to apply its admissions policy from that point, with the nearest alternative being Bishopton Primary School.
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