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DISAPPOINTMENT was the initial reaction this week as parents in Lochs digested the Scottish Office announcement of £3.2 million for an area school.
The award which will only allow new primary provision to go ahead falls far short of local aspirations for a primary and a two year secondary with community facilities.
But so far there is little sign of compromise in the air, with many in the community feeling let down yet again by the Council.
Mr Iain M Maciver, vice chairman of Knockiandue School Board, told the Gazette parents of children in the four schools volunteering for closure - Knockiandue, Leurbost, Fidigarry and Balallan - had been "more or less, forced into accepting" the package of an area primary with two year secondary provision and community facilities.
"We reluctantly went along with that in order to enjoy the same facilities as anywhere else in the Western Isles. Now that package has not been delivered and parents will have to think again about what direction they want the Council to take. The loss of secondary provision is a matter for the whole community, it's a big decision, and a question not just for the parents but for the whole community," said Mr Maciver.
He complained that the funding of an area school would have been easier to justify if a school site further south had been chosen. Leurbost was too close to Stornoway, and a number of alternative sites identified by the community had not even figured in the Council's consultation process.
Mr Maciver felt the ideal solution was two central schools, one in North Lochs and the other in Kinloch.
Also unhappy with the amount of money on the table was Mr Kenny John Macleod, vice chairman of Fidigarry School Board.
He commented: "There is disappointment that it is not for the total amount, but we are glad that at least they are providing some money. We are also glad that the Council are going to redouble their efforts to secure the rest of the money."
But he continued that it had already been made abundantly clear by the people of Kinloch that they were not interested in sending their children to a primary school in Leurbost.
Parents were now annoyed that several months ago they had been led to believe by the Council that their insistence on a primary school with two year secondary and community facilities was a gamble, and that the Scottish Office would take an all or nothing approach to funding. At a meeting of the Fidigarry School Board on Monday evening, said Mr Macleod, the feeling was that parents had been misled by Council officials trying to get them to downgrade their requirements.
North Lochs councillor, Mr Finlay Morrison, meanwhile, commented that he was pleased the Scottish Office have finally agreed to the principle of an area school. However, this was tempered by the amount of money that was being provided; a sum that would allow the construction of just the primary school element which would not meet the aspirations of the community.
The £3.2 million was going to cause a few headaches for the Council and would be up for a great deal of discussion over the next few weeks. Consultations locally were being planned to obtain the views of the community on this latest development.
Mr Morrison was reluctant to speculate, but did say a few options to enhance the Scottish Office consent for a Lochs area school might be possible.
Original article Stornoway Gazette Mar 06 1997.
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