Gaelic medium parents have joined a Highland community’s fight against a new school that it is claimed will block views of Ben Nevis.
Locals were angry to discover that the £7million Gaelic Medium Primary School being built on Ardgour Road at Caol, near Fort William, was going to be around 20ft high, with a sports hall measuring almost 40ft high.
They pointed out that the massive building is close to older peoples’ bungalows and more than 700 people have signed an online petition calling for work to stop.
Caol Community Council has now set up a steering group, involving community council members and local residents.
It is also inviting members of the local Gaelic medium parent body – Comman nam Parant a’Ghearasdain – to join the steering group after receiving a letter of support.
The group said: “What started off as a very positive development in the education infrastructure of Lochaber has turned into a very sour debate.”
The parent body wanted the new school built at Blar Mhor.
And it says: “We have full sympathy with the nearby residents and feel they are completely justified in their objections regarding the structure, size and positioning of the new building.”
Community council chairman Sandy Watson, who is also a member of the steering group, said they were planning a big public meeting.
They also want local people to write to Highland Council to complain about the building.
But he stressed that they were not against the school – just its positioning and the way the council has handled the project.
Meanwhile, the council has reassured local residents that correct planning processes were followed when it granted itself planning permission for the building.
Planning, development and infrastructure committee chairman, councillor Thomas Prag, said: “I am completely satisfied that the local planning office has carried out all the correct and relevant processes with regard to the submission and assessment of the planning application for the new school.”
He added that the council was aware that “a small number of concerns” had since been raised by some local residents.
Mr Prag said: “Having looked at the various options, and taking into account cost implications, there are some planting measures which may be undertaken to reduce any perceived effect of shading.”