Eagle slams plans to put Buckie High School new build on back burner
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RECOMMENDATIONS to prioritise Forres Academy for a new build over Buckie Community High School (BCHS) have been slammed by one of the candidates in this week's by-election in the town.
A special meeting of Moray Council's education, children's and leisure services committee on November 7 will hear that BCHS has lost out in the race to get the nod despite previously seeming to be the preferred option.
The council were heavily criticised in September for deciding to hold a debate on the matter in private, citing potential impact on the Buckie by-election as the reason.
The Conservative candidate for the vacant Buckie seat, Tim Eagle, described the decision as "heart-breaking".
He said: "For pretty much all my time as a councillor I was told that Buckie High was the prioritised school for a new build following the completion of Lossiemouth High School.
"With that in mind I was always aware that maintenance and improvements would be limited given the hoped short timeframe to the new school and leisure centre.
"To now see that Forres Academy is now the priority is almost heartbreaking. I was aware for years of significant issues in the Buckie leisure centre, particularly the boiler room and in the school. With so much riding on the new school we accepted that in the short term some make do and mending was going to be needed and so resources had been prioritised elsewhere.
"However, officers are now saying that small works have significantly improved the suitability of Buckie High School whilst Forres, despite £5 million being spent and a renovation of the leisure centre, has deteriorated significantly.
"There are many questions that come to mind and I hope these will be asked by councillors during the debate but it seems there is little hope now and that leaves a bitter taste for me after so long fighting for this to become a reality. I do though recognise that Forres Academy clearly also has significant need.
"I have been told Buckie would be next in line, being applied for during the next round of Scottish Government funding, but with increasing borrowing costs and significant competition for these grants I have to ask myself can Moray Council really afford £100 million in capital costs in such a short timeframe.
"If not I fear Buckie might be longer away than suggested. After a consultation which told us Buckie was the priority, the community now needs some guarantees on maintenance, improvements and what the future holds.
"Moray Council have questions to answer."
Also standing in the Buckie by-election are: Keighly Goudie (Scottish Labour Party); Neil Houlden; John Stuart (Scottish National Party); Les Tarr (Scottish Liberal Democrats).
