Almost every primary school building in the Arbroath area is unsuitable for purpose, a new report has revealed.
New figures to be considered by Angus Council’s education committee today have shown only Colliston Primary achieved the required minimum rating for suitability when surveyed as part of a review of the Arbroath schools estate.
The remaining nine schools were all given a poor (C) or bad (D) rating, including Timmergreens and Muirfield primaries, which were earmarked for closure by the previous Angus Alliance administration.
Arbirlot was listed as C for condition and D for suitability, failing to reach to required minimum standard of either satisfactory (B) or good (A), in either measure.
Using the same system, Carmyllie scored B and C; Colliston B and B; Hayshead B and C; Inverbrothock B and C; Ladyloan B and C; Muirfield C and C, St Thomas B and C, Timmergreens C and C and Warddykes C and C.
The former leader of Angus Council claimed the scathing school suitability ratings were not unexpected.
Brechin independent councillor Bob Myles, who led the failed Angus Alliance bid for an £8 million school in Arbroath, said it was well known the town’s schools were in desperate need of upgrading.
He added: ”We knew a long time ago that all of the schools needed work and they are not simply going to get better overnight or improve with time.
”We always knew we couldn’t refurbish all the schools in one go, but other areas have had their work done and Arbroath was next in line for development.
”The figures have now come back and proved exactly what we were saying all along, and it was obvious from day one that there was some political gerrymandering here.
”There were definitely some underhand dealings, which still may come out in the wash, and I know there is already somebody looking at making a public inquiry.”
Arbroath SNP councillor Ewan Smith, who led the campaign against the Alliance’s proposal to shut Muirfield and Timmergreens primaries in favour of a new build, is now vice-convener of the council’s education committee.
He said the fresh consultation process would take into account the views of parents from across the whole of Arbroath.
”As a parent I made my feelings pretty clear about the previous consultation process and I still hold those views,” he said. ”But as a councillor I have to take an unbiased view and have to wait on the progress of the consultation process.
”There is an opportunity to spend £10.6 million, which is clearly a substantial amount of money in the current climate, and that means it is even more important that the council does everything it can to ensure that money goes to the right place or places.
”The decision on what happens shouldn’t be taken in advance by a single group of people.”Options in front of councillorsCouncillors will discuss a range of options for the future of Arbroath’s schools, with a view to deciding the best use of an £11m funding pot.
The fresh look comes after the Alliance’s £8m “superschool” application for a new build to replace Muirfield and Timmergreens was consigned to the scrapheap.
Option one is to divide the money between the schools, taking into consideration school capacity, school roll or internal area.
However, the report to committee states such a move would not direct resources to the schools most in need of investment and could not be justified as a best value approach.
Option two is to use the funding for maintenance, repairs and necessary replacements to all schools in the area.
While council officers recognised “some merit” in that avenue, the report states it would direct resources towards non-essential work and may not improve the suitability ratings for the buildings.
Option three is to combine refurbishment and improvement with a programme of maintenance, repairs and replacement across the town’s school estate.
Although officers have recommended that option be carried forward, the report has reservations that such a development could be complex and lead to a design led by compromise.
The final option is to look at building a completely new school or schools, with any money left going towards upgrades and maintenance of the existing buildings.
A total of eight possible new-build projects have been set out, including a similar development to the Alliance proposal already rejected by the Scottish Government.
A new 540-pupil capacity school could be constructed in place of Muirfield and Timmergreens at a cost of about £7.7m, leaving about £3.5m for upgrades at other sites.
The second option is for a 540-capacity school to replace Ladyloan and Timmergreens, plus a 242-capacity school to replace Muirfield, at a combined cost of £11.7m – about £472,000 over budget.
Option three suggests building a 540-capacity school to replace Muirfield and Timmergreens, as well as an 85-capacity school to replace Arbirlot and Carmyllie, at a cost of £9.2m, leaving £2m for improvements.
A fourth option puts forward two 252-capacity new schools from permutations of Ladyloan, Muirfield and Timmergreens at £8.1m, with a saving of £2.5m.
Meanwhile, a fifth proposal would see a 252-capacity school at Timmergreens, plus a 375-capacity school at Warddykes costing £10.2m, with a saving of £350,000.
Options six and seven are for 484-capacity schools at Inverbrothock and Hayshead respectively at a cost of £6.9m and a saving of £3.7m for upgrades.
The final suggestion is for a 484-capacity Hayshead, plus a 135-capacity school at St Thomas, at a cost of £8.7m and a saving of £1.9m.The faults:Arbirlot needs: Electrical rewiring, new water pipes
Carmyllie needs: Painter and joiner repairs, upgraded windows
Colliston needs: upgraded lighting, new boilers
Hayshead needs: new boilers, new fire alarm
Inverbrothock needs: toliet extractor upgrade, new boilers
Ladyloan needs: upgraded emergency lights, new nursery floor coverings
Muirfield needs: upgraded toilets, new handrails
St Thomas RC needs: upgraded lighting, upgraded fire doors
Timmergreens needs: new switchgear, new cycle shed
Warddykes needs: new fire alarm system, new heating system