BY KIRSTY WATT
It was a “momentous” day for pupils and parents at Broadford Primary School last Friday as the first turf was cut in the construction of their new school.
Marking the start of the development which has been years in the pipeline, a turf-cutting ceremony saw pupils joined by MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch Kate Forbes and Skye councillor and chair of Highland Council’s education committee John Finlayson, along with representatives from contractors Morgan Sindall Construction, Highland Council, Broadford Community Council, Broadford and Strath Community Company and South Skye Community Campus SCIO.
Costing £21 million and due for completion by summer next year, the new school development will include a nursery/sgoil àraich, gym hall, public library and council service point.
Also due to start construction this spring is the separate South Skye Community Campus’s new all-weather, floodlit sports pitch which will accompany the school.
Councillor Finlayson, who has been working to bring Broadford a new school for nine years, said last Friday was “a momentous day”.
He added: “It has taken a huge deal of energy, commitment and vision to get us to this stage, but the end result will be first class facilities for the school and wider community.
“A new school for Broadford has been a priority ambition of Highland Council, and now we are turning that vision into genuine progress. “The new school shows the enormous value in partnership and co-operation when it comes to delivering lasting change. The Highland Council, Scottish Government, community groups and parents have all worked together on this vital development, which is now going to become a reality.
“I would like to thank the Skye community, stakeholders and council officers who have worked tirelessly with me and other members over a number of years to get to this stage. They should be so proud of their efforts.”
Ronan Martin and Melissa MacLeod, on behalf of Broadford Primary School Parent Council, said the BPSPC had been “delighted” to take part in the ceremony which signalled “an exciting era for the school and wider community”.
Broadford’s new school is one of three Highland Council projects included in the Scottish Government’s Learning Estate Investment Programme which focuses on delivering high quality, suitable, sustainable, low carbon, and digitally enabled learning environments.
The new school development has been designed to the Passivhaus classic standard, an international energy performance standard which aims to create comfortable indoor temperatures whilst using minimal energy for heating and cooling.
MSP Kate Forbes, who has campaigned for Broadford’s new school for many years alongside the community, said: “I am absolutely thrilled to see construction work officially begin in Broadford for the new primary school. I have fought for this day for many years.
“I share in the excitement pupils and teachers have, along with the wider community, for the school and the facilities it will bring to Broadford. The project has received funding from the Scottish Government, and I am pleased to see this investment being made to rural communities such as Broadford.”
She added: “I am most grateful to those involved in the stakeholder group which has been held over recent years to help reach this point.”