Parents anger over nursery extension plans

Published 26 Feb 2010 12:49 0 Comments

COUNCILLORS have hit back over claims that plans to extend an Innerleithen nursery are sub-standard.

Parents were up in arms about a plan to extend St. Ronan's Nursery by erecting a cabin taken from the old Kingsland Primary School site in Peebles, which they claimed was not fit for purpose.

However, Councillor Catriona Bhatia, Executive Member for Education, told the Peeblesshire News: "We are still looking at various solutions at how best to expand the nursery at St. Ronan's.

"There has been a rumour that we plan to use an old hut from Kingsland Primary that won't even be attached to the current building - this is simply not true.

"One of the proposals put forward is to use the nursery building from Kingsland which is a modern double unit that is only a few years old. It's the same style used for many nurseries across the region and would be joined to the existing building.

"There are meetings planned to discuss the scheme -I will be attending an Innerleithen Community Council meeting next week as well as meeting with parents to discuss the issue and listen to their views.

"The extension would represent a £230,000 investment in the facilities at St. Ronan's."

Parents also expressed fears that the unit would intrude on the playground area, which they only recently raised funds to improve.

Dominic Finn, a member of the school's Parent Council, said: "We want assurances that the nursery extension will be up to scratch.

"There have been fears that we were going to be getting Kingsland Primary's cast-off's.

"There will be meetings next week to discuss the project and we are pleased that we are now being involved in the consultation process.

"With the school roll expected to grow substantially over the coming years we hope that councillors will be looking at long-term solutions for St. Ronan's and not just a quick fix."

Ross McGinn, Chairman of Innerleithen Community Council, thinks that a lack of information from Councillors is to blame for the confusion.

"Parents have been upset because they feel they have been excluded from the consultation process.

"The whole project has been very badly handled."

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This article appeared in Peeblesshire News 26 Feb 10

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