Madras College: councillors rule two-school plan is not deliverable
A bid for a two-school solution for Madras College has been shot down by a Fife Council committee.
- By Aileen Robertson
- Published in the Courier : 23.09.11
- Published online : 23.09.11 @ 12.53pm
Backed by UKIP councillor Mike Scott-Hayward, Conservative councillor Dave Dempsey called for two schools — one in St Andrews and one in the Tay bridgehead area — to be among options put before parents and the community in a referendum on how to best meet the educational needs of north-east Fife's secondary pupils.
However, the move was unanimously opposed by other councillors in the room at Thursday's policy, finance and asset management committee.
Labour, Lib Dem and SNP members were in agreement that building a £40 million single-site school in St Andrews to replace the split campus Madras as soon as possible should be made a priority.
Before the vote it was decided that if the referendum did go ahead it should not be binding.
Administration leader and committee chairman Councillor Peter Grant said he was concerned that by offering the community the option of two schools the council was promising to do something it might not be able to afford.
"A binding referendum is going to commit us to something that's going to cost more than £40 million," he said.
Councillor Douglas Chapman, who chairs the education and children's services committee, said there was no point putting the two-school option out to a referendum when it was not "deliverable".
He said: "The referendum is a bit of a sideshow, which is unnecessary given that we are prepared to consult widely with parents in north-east Fife."
'Promise'
Meanwhile, Councillor Kay Morrison told Mr Dempsey and Mr Scott-Hayward: "Sorry guys, I just don't think it makes sense."
She added: "We did make a promise to St Andrews, to Madras and to the whole school community that we would deliver one school and the arguments for that have already been made."
Depute leader of the administration Councillor Elizabeth Riches said: "Neither Dave nor Mike have done their homework."
She said two schools had been "a Lib Dem aspiration" but local party members had realised it was no longer feasible because of the drop in school roll at Madras.
"Can I say to you, wake up and catch up," she said.
Supporting the move for a single school, Councillor Alex Rowley said: "We need to move on. This issue has dragged and dragged and dragged. Let's move forward and get a solution for the future generation of the Tay bridgehead and St Andrews areas."
Mr Dempsey summed up his position by stating the council could be "snatching at a solution too quickly".
Public engagement events are set to get under way next week, when a total of 10 sites will be up for discussion. A decision on the site is expected on November 10.
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