Campbeltown school is in ‘crumbling’ condition

Dalintober Primary School is ‘crumbling’ despite a recent positive education inspectors’ report, South Kintyre councillor Donald Kelly has claimed.

Councillor Kelly raised concerns about the condition of the school building at a meeting of Argyll and Bute Council on Thursday June 27.

But Douglas Hendry, the council’s executive director of customer services, assured other councillors that everything was in order with the structure of the school.

Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Education (HMIE) published a report at the end of May rating the school as either good or very good in every category and with no more visits planned.

Councillor Kelly said: ‘I was delighted to see that Dalintober Primary received an excellent HMIE report, but I want to inform the council that the school is in a terrible condition.

‘The fabric of that building is still in the 20th century. My colleagues and I have been invited to visit and found the condition to be disgraceful.

‘Our children are coming up to the 21st century in terms of education standards but the building is living in the 20th century.

‘Can somebody apply pressure to look at schools in Campbeltown and find some programme for a revamp?’

Councillor Kieron Green, Oban North and Lorn, deputy chairman of the council’s community services committee, responded: ‘There is a process the council has to go through. We will note your comments.’

Mr Hendry then said: ‘Dalintober is a building constructed in the 19th century, so it is well over 100 years old.

‘Is it what we would put in place if building a new school now? No, but I don’t accept any comments about parts of the building being disgraceful.

‘It is fit for purpose and is delivering education to a high standard.’