‘Dire’ Perth High problems to be addressed, says council.

Dining room and toilets said to be the main problems at ageing Perth High

Education chiefs have promised to address “dire” facilities at an ageing Perth secondary school, before its £50 million rebuild.

Latest proposals for the long-awaited new Perth High School will be unveiled to the public next week.

The replacement building is scheduled to open in August 2023.

Perth High, which has a roll of 1,600, dates from the 1960s and its condition has been rated as “poor” in a survey of school estates.

At a meeting of Perth and Kinross Council’s property sub-committee yesterday, officers were pressed on work to improve substandard conditions while plans are progressed on the new building.

SNP councillor Dave Doogan said: “The situation in the school needs to be addressed.

“There’s always a balancing act between investing in what you’ve got, in anticipation of a brand new facility.

“But it is largely understood that there are some real pressures for learners and teachers in that building, particularly the dining facility capacity and the toilets, which I understand are pretty dire.”

He said: “We still have the current building for a few years and I think we should be engaging with the young learners themselves, asking in plain language: ‘What is the worst thing about being in school at the moment, in terms of the actual building?’

“I think they will come back to us with concerns about toilets and dining facilities.”

Senior business and resources manager Greg Boland confirmed work will be carried out.

“We have invested significantly in the building over the last three or four years, and we have enough money to keep the building going up to 2023,” he said.

A 12-week consultation on the new building will begin next Monday.

Parents will get the chance to learn more about the development at an open event at the Oakbank Road school from 4 to 8pm.

Feedback will be used to shape a planning application, which is expected to be lodged in the coming months.

The designs feature a replacement building with playgrounds and car parking. Existing sports pitches will be relocated.

The current school will only be demolished when the new building is in place.

The latest proposals for the new school will be unveiled to the public next week.