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John Swinney quizzed on Elgin High School delays

The access road being built behind the old Elgin High School for the new school. Picture by Gordon Lennox
The access road being built behind the old Elgin High School for the new school. Picture by Gordon Lennox

Parents campaigning for a new Elgin High School are still in the dark over the future of the delayed project – despite the issue being raised in parliament.

Construction on the building was supposed to start in April, but the plans have become bogged down in a funding wrangle.

The local authority and the secondary school’s parent council wrote to Deputy First Minister John Swinney pleading for guidance on when work may be able to begin.

And the matter has now been raised with Mr Swinney at Holyrood by Highlands and Islands MSP Mary Scanlon.

Ms Scanlon questioned the deputy first minister, who is also cabinet secretary for Finance, constitution and economy, over when the £28million scheme could start, and what support Moray Council could expect should the delay lead to increased construction costs.

Deputy First Minister John Swinney
Deputy First Minister John Swinney

Although Mr Swinney said the government would “remain close” to the project, and “try to resolve issues”, his response left local campaigners frustrated.

Elgin City South councillor John Divers has led the charge for a new high school in Elgin for over a decade, and has grown increasingly dismayed by the delays to the scheme in recent months.

Mr Divers said yesterday: “It looks like we’re not able to move on, and if we can’t proceed then construction costs will only increase by the time we begin.

“If it drags on we may have to re-tender the work, which would multiply the price of the project considerably.”

He added: “I would say Moray Council is just a pawn in this process, but it’s debatable whether we are even that, as a pawn can at least move.

“We are just having to sit stagnant at the moment, and we don’t know how long that will last.”

Ms Scanlon added: “I had hoped the deputy first minister would have provided more specific information on how he will work with Moray Council on this particular project.

“I will continue to question the Scottish Government on this, as it is vital that the school is built as soon as possible.”

Construction was due to start in April, but was stalled because of a dispute between the Scottish Government and the Office of National Statistics over its Scottish Futures Trust funding model.

In June Moray Council began work on an access road to the site, which is still continuing.