Prefab at Pitlochry school has lasted double its lifespan – time to replace it?

A call has been made for a prefab school building that has been in use for more than double its lifespan to be replaced.

A councillor has questioned why Pitlochry Primary School, built in 1976, has still not been replaced 26 years beyond its 25-year life expectancy.

A previous commitment to replace the school by 2022 was “ditched” from Perth and Kinross Council’s capital programme in 2018.

The school forms part of a combined nursery, primary and secondary at Pitlochry High School on the Highland Perthshire town’s East Moulin Road.

Perth High School took precedence

At a learning and families committee meeting on November 2, members discussed a report providing an update on Perth and Kinross Council’s school estate transformation programme.

During the discussion Provost Xander McDade asked about the replacement of Pitlochry Primary School.

The Independent Highland Perthshire councillor said: “In June 2018, Pitlochry Primary School, which had been due for a replacement which would have been opened this year, was removed from the capital programme.”

He explained that this was due to the need to urgently fund the Perth High School replacement.

He added: “And was ditched with a lot of other projects which made it back into the capital programme.

“Indeed, other projects have made it back into the capital programme since then.

“However, Pitlochry Primary School is of the same building construction type as Perth High School, Kinross Primary and a number of other primaries that have since been replaced.

“It is the last of that construction type which was deemed unsuitable a while ago. The life expectancy of the building is supposed to be 25 years.”

He added: “We used money originally allocated for the high school to keep the primary school building wind and watertight in the last five years.”

Conditions, suitability and climate change

Provost McDade asked for clarity on what plans there were to replace the school building.

Service manager Brian Reid said: “You’re quite right there was the funding previously for Pitlochry that was moved around and new priorities were voted upon and taken forward by council.”

He explained that – along with other schools – Pitlochry would be considered as part of a learning estate management plan and investment blueprint.

He said: “Conditions, suitability, climate change, all these factors have to be considered alongside each other for priority.”

However, the committee was told – at the moment – it is not earmarked to be replaced.

Mr Reid said: “There isn’t anything in the current plan for Pitlochry Primary School replacement.

“There has been some significant investment across the whole secondary and primary recently with various works: audio visual equipment, wi-fi equipment, decoration, lighting, new roof, etc so there has been up to £2.8 million invested in the building as it stands.”