Plans for a second primary school in Kintore hit another setback last night as it emerged the Scottish Government wants to hold a public inquiry into the project.
The fast-growing town is in desperate need of another school, with the 415-pupil primary already well over capacity.
Aberdeenshire Council had originally hoped the new 540-pupil school at Midmill would be open next autumn, but earlier this year announced it would be delayed for a year because of difficulties securing the ground needed.
The local authority later applied to the Scottish Government for a compulsory purchase order (CPO) after further talks with the four landowners – which include the Kintore Consortium Kirkwood Homes, Malcolm Allan and Barratt Homes – failed.
And now it has emerged that, due to the various objections lodged by the landowners, the government is seeking to hold a public inquiry into the proposed CPO for the site.
Last night Douglas Milne, the council’s area manager for Garioch, said it was “deeply frustrating” that the local authority had been unable to buy the land as planned and called for a meeting with the landowners to resolve the issues.
East Garioch councillor Martin Ford also urged the landowners to withdraw their objections and agree to the sale of the land.
He said: “Whether Aberdeenshire Council has ownership of the site for the new school in time for the school to be built and opened in 2016 now depends on decisions by others.
“The four landowners who have lodged formal objections to the CPO could withdraw their objections and agree to the council purchasing the land.
“Agreement is always preferable. There is no doubt that all the objectors will be very well aware of the urgent need for a new school to serve the local community.
“If there does have to be a public inquiry, that needs to happen as quickly as possible.”
Councillor Fergus Hood, who is also chairman of the Garioch area committee, added: “The local community urgently require this school to be built and are fully supportive of the project.
“There is planning permission and funding in place for the construction of the school and this needs to be progressed as a matter of urgency.”