School cash is needed

Cllr says SG should stump up

Depute Provost of Perth and Kinross Willie Wilson is growing impatient waiting on the Scottish Government to announce when it will stump up cash to help replace the city’s ageing Perth High School.

The Lib Dem councillor has written to the Scottish cabinet secretary for finance, Derek Mackay MSP, asking when the government will be able to add to the £10m the local authority put away last year to partly pay for a replacement school.

He told the PA: “In last year’s budget PKC made provision in their capital budget for £10 million to be earmarked for a replacement Perth High School.

“Since then there has been a stunning silence from the Scottish Government [and] despite raising this matter on several occasions there has been no real indication of when the funding might be provided or what the likely timescales involved will be.

“When we enquired in November 2017 we received an ambivalent letter from a civil servant which gave very little information but did say that Scotland’s Schools for the Future Programme should be finalised in early 2018.

“We are nearly into March now and it is time for a decision to be made.

“I have written to Mr Mackay again asking when the announcement will be made regarding funding for the replacement of Perth High School and what the likely timescale and availability of the capital finance will be.”

In his letter, seen by the PA, councillor Wilson said to Mr Mackay: “I understand that under the Scotland’s Schools for Future Programme, Perth High School would be eligible for inclusion and funding.

“I should be grateful if you could confirm if this is the case. I also understand that details of the programme for years ahead are to be finalised early in 2018 and we are there now.

“I gather that PKC have made your officers aware of the feasibility study regarding the replacement for Perth High School which is urgent. I should be grateful therefore if you could advise me when the announcement will be made regarding the funding for the replacement of Perth High School.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson responded: “Through the £1.8 billion Scotland’s schools for the uture programme, PKC was awarded significant funding of £35 million towards the construction of Invergowrie Primary School, Kinross Primary School, Tulloch Primary School and the new secondary school at Bertha Park.

“We are developing Scotland’s new Learning Estate Development plan and expect to make an announcement on this later this year.”

It is time for a decision to be made