Traffic signalsat C408for 14days
A project to determine the catchment area for the new £14 million primary school at Bertha Park is underway.
The catchment review could impact four neighbouring primary schools -Luncarty, Pitcairn, Ruthvenfield and Tulloch.
And one proposal would see the 153-year-old Ruthvenfield Primary School building close and pupils moved to the new school at Bertha Park.
Perth and Kinross Council began issuing letters to parents last week about the preconsultation process.
Parents are invited to complete a questionnaire on PKC’s website until May 16, 2021.
Parents and the local community will also be able to view information regarding the new school, catchment review and potential catchment boundary maps on PKC’s website.
In January 2020 PKC’s lifelong learning committee was told of a pressing need for a new primary school at Bertha Park due to housebuilding in the area.
The committee approved the building of a new school with the condition it would not predicate on the closure of any neighbouring rural schools.
The committee’s convener insisted this was still the case.
Conservative councillor Caroline Shiers told The PA: “A year ago, there was unanimous cross-party support at the lifelong learning committee to invest in a £14 million new primary school in the north/ northwest of Perth to provide the necessary additional pupil capacity as a result of the plans for significant new housing developments in the area.
“Members also agreed a site for the new school adjacent to the existing Bertha Park High School which will serve a new catchment area covering Almond Valley, Perth West and Bertha Park.
“In establishing this new school, it was recognised that adjustments to the existing catchment areas for the surrounding primary schools would need to be reviewed to meet the needs of both current and future pupils and that a consultation would be undertaken with school communities who might be affected by these changes.
“At that same meeting, the lifelong learning committee also considered the position of nearby Ruthvenfield Primary School which was being reviewed due to the condition and suitability of the building being below the desired standards.
“Members unanimously agreed that the establishment of the new primary school ‘should not necessarily be predicated on the closure of any neighbouring rural schools’ and it was further agreed by all elected members that ‘options which keep these schools open would be part of the options appraisal.’”
Last week parents at Ruthvenfield PS were presented with the two options being consulted upon.
Option One would see the new school built at Bertha Park and Ruthvenfield PS remain in its existing site with improvements to the building and an adjusted catchment.
Option Two would see the closure of the existing Ruthvenfield PS building and its pupils being accommodated in the new replacement school at Bertha Park.
This new school would have a larger capacity and catchment area accommodating pupils from a wider catchment area including a large part of the major housebuilding sites in the area.
The letter said: “You should note that any change to catchment areas are unlikely to take place until August 2023 at the earliest.
“It is also possible that the catchment will not change until the new school at Bertha Park opens. This is anticipated to be August 2026.”
A spokesperson for PKC told The PA: “The options appraisal will also consider any implications for the current catchment areas for Luncarty,
Pitcairn, Ruthvenfield and Tulloch Primary Schools.
“The pre-consultation will be undertaken online with background information and a survey through the Council’s Consultation Hub.
“It is presently intended that the options appraisal will be brought before councillors in August 2021.
“A statutory consultation will take place following feedback from the parents and communities involved in the pre-consultation.”
Perth City North SNP councillor John Rebbeck is the SNP group’s education spokesperson.
He told The PA: “The SNP group strongly opposes the closure of rural primary schools.
“And I believe a new primary school at Bertha Park can happily co-exist with all the primary schools in the area.”
Road users are being advised that temporary traffic signals will be in place on the C408 at the Hunter’s Lodge underbridge for approximately two weeks.
The project will begin on Monday, May 17 in order to allow the completion of waterproofing and kerbing works.
The two-way temporary traffic signals will be in place 24 hours a day, seven days a week and will be manually controlled during normal working hours (8am to 6pm) to safely manage traffic flows and minimise disruption to road users.
Pedestrian access will be maintained at all times.
Road users are advised to approach the area with care and allow extra time for their journeys whilst these works are undertaken.
This planned traffic management is weather dependent and subject to change.
Refer to the Transport Scotland website for updates.