Extension to school agreed in £4m deal
Councillor’s thanks for‘sensible solution’
Perth and Kinross Council’s £4.2 million proposal that will allow Invergowrie pupils to continue attending Harris Academy in Dundee was agreed this week.
Dundee City councillors voted in favour of the ambitious bid at their children and family services committee meeting on October 25.
The substantial sum will contribute towards an extension at Harris to help accommodate Invergowrie pupils at the Perth Road school.
Six additional classrooms are expected to be built, along with circulation and social space.
Dundee City Council will, however, continue to cover day-to-day and revenue costs.
The development brings huge relief to Invergowrie families as their children will avoid a 40-mile round bus journey to a Perth secondary school.
Dundee City Council has been reviewing the realignment of the catchment areas of Harris Academy’s feeder schools since the start of 2020, with the headline recommendation to axe Invergowrie Primary School as an associate.
The PA then revealed PKC’s multimillion pound proposal last month, with local councillors giving it their backing at a full council meeting on October 6.
Carse of Gowrie ward councillor Angus Forbes attended the October 25 meeting.
At the meeting, prior to the vote, he said: “It’s almost two years since I spoke to you all about this matter, what a difference two years makes. I just want to thank you, convener, for engaging with me and my constituents over the process and for your efforts to find a suitable solution working with Perth and Kinross Council.
“Thank you also to your officers who worked away behind the scenes to find a pragmatic and sensible solution to this issue and for recommending to you all tonight that you should accept the proposal.
“I appreciate that ’ s simply a recommendation at this stage, but I want to urge you all to accept this proposal.
“Not only will this solve a problem for my constituents but it will provide financial support to your plans to extend Harris.
“As you know , Invergowrie children have contributed greatly to Harris over the decades, long-term friendships have been formed between children on both sides of that line I spoke about last time I was here.
“To close, convener, I would urge you all to vote to accept this arrangement and let my constituents continue their education at Harris.”
He said previously: “Four million pounds is a substantial sum of money and at a time when council budgets are stretched to breaking point, I am delighted that my colleagues on Perth and Kinross Council agreed to commit this money to the children in my ward.”