Two primary schools in Arbroath are to be replaced at a cost of £10m, it was decided last night.
Timmergreens and Warddykes primary schools will both be knocked down and rebuilt, with work expected to start in late 2014.
Angus Council’s education committee determined focusing on the two schools with the highest level of repairs was the best way to spend £10.6m of funds available to upgrade Arbroath’s primary school estate.
Completely replacing Timmergreens at a cost of £4m and Warddykes at £6.2m was judged to be a better option than carrying out £4.4m of repairs at these schools.
It means just £400,000 of the budget is available to maintain the rest of the town’s primaries, though another £300,000 a year could be set aside out of the Capital Maintenance budget to add to this pot.
It is hoped that another £17m to £20m will be available in five years’ time to replace other schools in the town.
Convener Sheena Welsh said: “They are nearing the end of their useful life and to spend millions of pounds shoring them up for a few more years is a waste of time and resources. We would only end up having this same debate again in five or 10 years’ time.”
Just one councillor Arbroath West and Letham member Ewan Smith opposed the plan, preferring the option to spread the money across the town’s 10 primaries in a maintenance and repair programme.
Last night he said he was considering referring the long-running matter to full council.
For a full report on last night’s meeting, see the Angus edition of Friday’s Courier or try our digital edition.