Fresh calls for cash to build new school

FRESH calls have been made to stump up cash for a new primary school.

Following a failed bid to get Dundee City Council to revise its budget to provide money for a school at the Western Gateway development, Labour councillor Michael Marra has vowed he and his group will continue to fight for a new facility.

His bid is being backed by the Western Gateway Community group who are also trying to secure a primary school for the area.

The local authority has told residents it cannot justify building a school in the area yet because it estimates there are only 58 primaryaged children currently living there.

It has yet to give any clear commitment or timescale for when one will be built, much to the anger of those who bought homes and stumped up £4,680 each in “roof tax” for a school to be built.

The tax was registered in 2015 by the council in planning documents for the new development in and around Dykes of Gray and was given a 10-year lifespan.

However, both Mr Marra and Bill Batchelor, chairman of the Western Gateway Community, have said there will be about 287 primary age pupils living in the area by 2025.

Mr Marra moved an amendment at the council’s policy and resources committee meeting, asking that the capital plan be urgently revised following a report into options for primary education in the area.

It was defeated by 16 votes to 11. Following the vote he said: “The council’s projections show by 2025 there will be 287 children living in the Western Gateway. That is easily enough to require a primary school.

“With this capital plan running to 2025 it must include the primary school that has been promised.”

Mr Marra added: “By 2025 there is expected to be £4.1 million of education contributions paid by homeowners in their house prices.

“That money will be sitting in the council bank accounts. If it is not allocated by 2025, the money must be returned to the housing developer.”

Mr Batchelor said he and others from the community group had met with the council’s executive director of children and families services on numerous occasions, including since January, to discussion the situation.

He said: “We continue to be adamant a school needs to be built.”

So far about £1.1 million in taxes has been paid by residents but this will rise rapidly as homes are purchased in the coming years. There are 478 residential properties but the council’s projections estimate there could be up to 1,113 houses by 2025.

The issue was exacerbated when plans to create a new tri-school serving children living in the border areas of Perth & Kinross, Angus and Dundee collapsed last year.