NEW BID TO WIN CASH FOR LOCHS SCHOOL
A-FRESH-application is to be made to the Scottish Office for additional funding to finance a combined primary and secondary school at Lochs.
But this will not be done until after the General Election when the next Government is in place.
Members of the Education Committee were told at their meeting on Tuesday that to implement the Council's policy decision of a combined primary-secondary S1/S2 school, they would require an additional sum of £1.4 million.
The Council have received an allocation of £3.2 million for the primary provision but they also want a secondary established.
Councillor Finlay Morrison of North Lochs agreed to the suggestion that they 'go back to whatever Government is in situ on the 1st of May to provide additional funding for this'.
Convener Donald M Mackay told the meeting, "We must remember that there has been a promise from this Council for the past six years to provide a community school in Lochs. The people of the area have been very patient, waiting for something to happen We are part of the way there with £3.2 million on the table. Unless we proceed with this project, this money will go back to the Scottish Office and will be available for other projects." He said that the Lochs community school was one of the key tasks of Comhairle nan Eilean, along with the Scalpay bridge and Berneray causeway.
The Convener said he agreed they should go back to the Government for more money, but at this juncture he hoped every member supported the proposal that the school go ahead.
"If it doesn't go ahead it has implications for the whole programme of schools in the Western Isles," he added.
Vice Convener Angus Graham pointed out that Labour's Helen Liddell had visited the site of the proposed Lochs school.
"She was very impressed at what we were trying to do at Lochs, closing five schools and opening a new one. We feel there are special circumstances in these islands and we will argue that after the Election. In the early summer, some of us will be going to the Scottish Office and pleading with them that this school at Lochs is one of our key tasks. It is not an awful lot of money we are asking for."
Chairman of the Committee, Councillor Roderick Macdonald said that they should continue to press for the additional funding.
"If we cannot progress on the Secondary 1/Secondary 2 scenario, we will have to go back and consult with the communities concerned," he said.
Vice Convener Graham said that if it was only a primary that was to be built, he did not think the people of the area would want in on the site earmarked for the community school.
It was recommended that a fresh application be submitted to the Scottish Office after the General Election.
Original article Stornoway Gazette Apr 30 1997.
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