Uncertainity over Newbattle Community High School funding

Monday August 10th 2015

Newbattle Community High School

Written by Editor Phil Bowen

In March Midlothian Council said the building of the replacement for Newbattle Community High School was delayed whilst they awaited the outcome of a review on how some investment projects are classified. The review was necessary after a tightening of EU rules around publicly-funded building programmes.

In July the Office for National Statistics (ONS) announced the findings of their review. As a consequence the Scottish Government have had to reclassify some private projects, such as the construction of the Aberdeen bypass, as public sector projects.

The project to build the Newbattle Community High School is subject to the review findings as it is within the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) programme.

Midlothian View contacted the council for comment as to when the building work on the school would commence, and a spokesman said

“The Scottish Government is currently assessing the Office of National Statistics review to determine the likely impact on the contractual arrangements for the new facility. At this time we are unable to ascertain the extent of the delay until such time as this assessment is complete and the information becomes available.”

Therefore, uncertainity remains as to when this important project to build the community school will start.

However, the council spokesman did confirm that the Scottish Government has funding in place for the new replacement primary schools for Paradykes and Roslin. This means they are now no longer linked to the same European contractual situation as Newbattle Community High School.

The pre-planning consultation process for both of these projects has just completed and planning applications for both will be lodged during the week beginning August 10. The council say they remain on programme with both projects and expect to be on site for both schools in the first half of next year.

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