Published: Friday, 1st August, 2008 12:00
Work starts on new Kingsland school
By David O'Leary
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The first sod has been cut at the site of the new £10 million Kingsland Primary School.
Work began on Monday morning - ending a five-year wait over the much-debated and at times controversial replacement school.
Councillor Catriona Bhatia, Executive Member for Education at Scottish Borders Council had the honour along with pupils from the school.
Speaking to the Peeblesshire News Councillor Bhatia said: “This is the single biggest investment in Tweeddale and I’m delighted that it’s gone ahead. I would hope that we can now put all the furore behind us.”
She believes the local authority’s investment in the area, as well as the new primary school in Lauder which is costing a further £7.5 million, shows it is committed to improving education in the region.
She said: “These state of the art schools will bring wonderful facilities for pupils, staff and their communities.”
The council revealed it has awarded the building contract for both projects to Graham Construction, from Northern Ireland, which is also part of the consortium building the three new secondary schools in Earlston, Eyemouth and Duns.
However, unlike the high schools which are funded by a controversial Public Partnership, the new state-of-the-art primary schools are being funded from the council’s capital management programme.
Kingsland Primary on Neidpath Grazings will comprise 14 classrooms plus two additional classrooms that will be used for general purpose – each classroom is 75sqm; it will also have a full production kitchen; dining room, assembly hall and gym hall; tutorial/meeting rooms; internal social space that children can use on wet playtimes; nursery, with its own outdoor space; two green pitches and a multi-use synthetic pitch; several casual play areas with equipment for playtime as well as game use.
The school which was designed by Parr Architects is due to be completed in early December 2009 and can accommodate up to 400 primary children.
The entrances will also allow children to make their way to the school safely using designated footpaths.
Executive Member for Finance, Councillor Neil Calvert said: "I was delighted that
the contracts for both schools were within our original budgets, which will enable
us to progress with confidence our plans to build new schools for Halyrude,
Caddonfoot and West Linton."
Glenn Rodger, Director of Education and Lifelong Learning said: “I would like to thank everyone who has supported us over the past three years. This new Kingsland will build on the reputation and traditions of the old school in Rosetta Road and be a wonderful icon for Peebles. Like pupils, parents and our staff, I am looking forward to the opening ceremony.“
The new Kingsland has proved a divisive issue for the town as regards its location and more recently its name. The Kingsland Pupil Council voted last month in favour of retaining the name of Kingsland when they move to Neidpath Grazings. However, there has been opposition to this by those who feel the school’s history and tradition remain in the old Rosetta Road building.
After cutting the sod, Councillor Bhatia also commented on the recent public outcry regarding the retention of the name Kingsland Primary. She said: “It is the school’s decision to decide on the name and I respect that decision. I applaud the Pupil Council for the democratic way in which they resolved the issue.
“Halyrude will also have this option when they move into the Kingsland building so at least the name and history will survive.”
Dave Laurenson, Chair of Kingsland Parent Council said: “We’re delighted that work has finally got under way because it’s been a long time coming. I firmly believe that the school is made up of the people in it not the building. Let’s hope that we can now as a community all move on and support the children and school.”
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