Cupar’s ageing college faces £5.2m repair bill.

Calls made for a whole new building to house college

More than £5.2 million will have to be spent on Cupar’s ageing college, prompting fresh calls for an entirely new building.

The future of Elmwood Campus has been uncertain since Fife Council announced it was moving off the site more than three years ago.

Sole occupant SRUC, Scotland’s Rural College, has said it intends to remain in the town but no decision has been made on the future of the existing building.

A new condition survey by the Scottish Funding Council has now revealed the main building is in need of extensive repair.

The survey report said the main building alone, constructed in 1972, was in poor condition, needing £4.2m of maintenance and renewal work.

Other properties on the campus, including the sports hall and student residences, also face maintenance backlogs running into six figures.

The report said the college was managing the estate on a short term “fail and fix” basis.

North-east Fife Lib Dem MSP Willie Rennie said a replacement was needed urgently. He said: “By the Scottish Funding Council’s own assessment, we need a new college building for Elmwood.

“New investment in a new building must be part of a wider package to inject new life into further education provision in north-east Fife.”

Mr Rennie added: “I have been urging an agreement between SRUC, Fife College and the Scottish Funding Council and have been pleased with the responses so far.

“But we need to reach an agreement soon so we can get on with that new building and new arrangement.”

SNP MP Stephen Gethins added: “The value of having this facility in the heart of north-east Fife cannot be underestimated and any investment which allows SRUC – and hopefully also Fife College – to continue this great work is to be welcomed.”

An SRUC spokesperson said: “While we have not yet made any decisions about the future of the Elmwood Campus building itself, we are strongly committed to a continued presence in Cupar.

“We will be working closely with local partners to deliver this.”

A Fife College spokesperson said: “We are in discussion with Fife Council and SRUC regarding the north-east Fife provision.

“Conversations have started between Fife College and Bell Baxter High School with a view to developing a wider range of programmes at the school in Cupar, which will increase provision in the area.”

Bythe Scottish Funding Council’s own assessment, we need a new college building for Elmwood. MSP WILLIE RENNIE

The main building of Elmwood Campus alone needs a total of £4.2 million in maintenance and renewal work, according to a recent survey.