Work to start soon on two new childcare centres

SHOVELS will be in the ground within weeks after councillors passed plans for a near-£8 million project for early years provision in Forfar and Carnoustie.

In an ambitious programme, work is scheduled to start by October 7 at the former Forfar Academy and Pitskelly Park in Carnoustie to create early learning and childcare centres (ELCCs) which will help deliver 1,140 hours of free childcare for all Scottish three and four-year-olds from next August.

The purpose-built Angus centres are part of a wider plan which will also see private providers being given support to deliver the additional hours – and Angus officials have said they are confident the tight timetable for the new builds will be met.

Robertson Construction has been selected as the main contractor for both developments, with Angus children and learning committee councillors being given the latest update at their Forfar meeting yesterday.

Estimated Carnoustie costs are £4.16m, while the Forfar centre is budgeted at £3.64m.

The Pitskelly Park figure has gone down from original estimates due to changes in design and finish but the cost of the Forfar centre at Taylor Street has gone up following a design change.

Carnoustie ELCC will have a 205child capacity, while Forfar will be able to accommodate 155 youngsters.

Total Scottish Government capital grant support of £5.3m is being provided for the brace of developments.

Infrastructure services director Ian Cochrane’s report set out the project timetable to councillors, with a planned construction phase running until June next year.