Funding for the rebuild of a Dundee primary and nursery will not come from the Scottish Government, it has emerged.
Dundee City Council had put forward a bid to the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) for funding to replace Baldragon Academy, Sidlaw View Primary and Jessie Porter Nursery School with a new-build campus.
However, while it was announced last week that the SFT will pour funding into a new Baldragon, it did not approve funding for the other schools.
Local Strathmartine councillor Kevin Keenan branded the move ”disappointing”.
He said: ”I have to say it is disappointing that the SNP Government didn’t see the benefits of or have the foresight to approve the larger project which would have taken into account the needs of Sidlaw View Primary School and Jessie Porter Nursery.
”I hope that this is not a project which will disappear just because we have been let down by the Scottish Government.
”Council have now built an expectation amongst the parents, staff and pupils of these two schools and this Government has landed that burden directly back with the city council.
”The council has an ability to borrow funds at competitive rates. As a local councillor representing the area, I would not like to see any further backtracking the SNP administration in Dundee must commit to rebuilding these two schools.”
Dundee Labour group’s education spokesman Laurie Bidwell said the council was under an obligation to work out how to fund the project.
He added: ”This includes the 40% cost of rebuilding Baldragon unfunded by the Scottish Futures Trust and now 100% of the cost of Jessie Porter Nursery School and Sidlaw View Primary School.”
A council spokesman yesterday said a report would be before committee soon.
He said: ”At the education committee in June it was agreed to submit a bid to the Scottish Futures Trust for a new Baldragon Academy and a new Sidlaw View Primary School, integrated with Jessie Porter Nursery School.
”It was also agreed that, following the outcome of the bid, a more detailed proposal be reported back to committee in due course.
”This is now under preparation and officers will bring back the detailed report once they have all the relevant financial and technical information.”
ksmyth@thecourier.co.uk