Inverkeithing replacement is to fore as school estate in spotlight

Discussions about the future of Fife’s school estate will today go ahead without confirmation of Scottish Government funding.

David Ross, Labour co-leader of Fife Council, said: “We understood an announcement on Scottish Government funding would be made in February this year.

“There is still no sign of any additional funding announcement and the suggestion is that this won’t take place now until after this year’s Scottish Government spending review towards the end of the year.”

Inverkeithing, St Columba’s, Woodmill, Glenwood and Glenrothes high schools are prioritised for replacement with about £100m extra needed to cover the building programme. The council has earmarked £50m in capital funding.

Mr Ross and SNP co-leader David Alexander have said that Inverkeithing should be the first school to be rebuilt. “Whatever approach the council takes for renewing its secondary school estate in west Fife, it will require a new replacement for Inverkeithing High School,” said Mr Ross.

“Our view is that we should get on and start the process for building this new school as soon as possible, using the £50m allocated in our capital programme, and we will be proposing this at Tuesday’s committee meeting.”

Mr Alexander said: “We can’t demand money from anybody because the council is responsible for schools. Nobody else. Any help from the Scottish Government is to be welcomed as a bonus.

“I know discussions are going on right now, as does my co-leader, with Fife Council and the Scottish Government and I have every confidence that part of the funding for Dunfermline schools will be provided.”