Tayport Primary set for its £1m transformation

WHILE ALL will go quiet at most of Fife’s schools in five weeks, the summer holidays at Tayport Primary School will see the start of a £ 1 million upgrade.

The Victorian building is to be revamped with the creation of a new dining hall and the construction of a sports hall extension with new changing rooms and office accommodation.

Preparatory work has already been undertaken and, pending planning permission, the first phase of the project will begin during the six-week break.

As well as giving pupils new facilities, the investment in the building — part of which was constructed 136 years ago — will bring an end to youngsters having to go outside in all weathers to eat in a hut.

At the moment the Medway Hut houses the dining room, a classroom and the afterschool club, all of which will be brought into the main building.

Fife Council schools estate coordinator Maureen Rodigan said: “This is part of our Under One Roof project.

“The whole point is to get rid of the hut so the pupils won’t have to go outside to get to the dining hall.

“They will have a nice new hall and changing facilties, which will benefit the whole community as they will be available for use after school hours.”

The first phase of the project will involve replacing the windows in the rear of the school and creating the brand new dining hall.

The second phase will be the construction of the extension.

While some of the work will be finished before pupils return to class in August, it will be May next year before the entire project is complete.

Both planning permission and

listed building consent are being sought for alterations and extension to the school to form a two-storey games hall.

Asbestos in the hut will be removed before the structure is taken down.

The outside shelter will also be bulldozed.

A similar project at Ceres Primary School is nearing completion.

A £1.2m two-classroom extension is on target for handover to the council on June 6.

Both Tayport and Ceres primary schools were listed as having major defects in a government school estates review.

Picture: David Scott. The P6 pupils at Wormit Primary School raised £67 for the Tay Rail Bridge Disaster Memorial Trust during a collection at a church service. Trust secretary and vice-chairman Ian Nimmo-white is pictured beside pupil council members Jack Mackay (second...