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Edinburgh Reporter
2 days ago
- General
- Edinburgh Reporter
St Kentigern's Academy set to open new wing months ahead of schedule
St Kentigern's Academy in Blackburn is set to open its new wing months ahead of schedule after a £50m rebuild. More than 60% of the school – one of the largest in West Lothian- had to be demolished because of RAAC roofing panels. While councillors welcomed the fact that school will be completed by March, they voiced disappointment that the Scottish Government has yet to respond to pleas for £15m to help meet the costs. The Executive heard that the council has budget a loan could face paying an extra £15m interest on that sum. A report to the executive said: 'Discussions remain ongoing with the Scottish Government around funding support to deliver the works required at St Kentigern's Academy. To date, no funding support has been confirmed.' Depute Chief Executive for Education Dr Elaine Cook told the meeting: 'For the first year in a number of years, we will be able to have all our SQA exams within the school site.' Councillor Sally Pattle, Lib Dem, said: 'I really wanted to say a massive thank you from the outset, on behalf of councillors. Officers have kept us fully informed. They grasped the nettle in dealing with this situation.' 'Fingers crossed we get some money from the Scottish Government.' Depute SNP group leader Pauline Stafford echoed Councillor Pattle's thanks to officers and added 'A big thanks go to staff and students who have borne this really admirably. It has been a lot of upheaval.' Countering complaints that the Scottish Government had not responded to the council's plea for £15m costs Councillor Stafford said the council would be a better state if it had not had to pay £18m for PFI projects introduced by Labour. Conservative group leader, Damian Doran-Timson described that as 'defending the indefensible' and criticised millions of pounds 'wasted by the Scottish Government'. He added: 'The issue here is the Scottish Government not supporting the council. Shame on the Scottish Government for not stepping in.' Labour councillor Tom Conn said: 'I'd like to thank officers for dealing with RAAC throughout all our schools' estate. Not one penny has come from the Scottish Government to support this council. There's been criticism of the PFI which we are still paying off, but this is what we are going to have to do if we don't get this support- paying off on the never never.' A Scottish Government spokesperson defended its record on funding schools, pointing to almost £24m of funding through the Schools for the Future Programme, spent on building or extending schools in the county and also financial support given through the Learning Estate Investment Programme. The spokesperson added: 'The Scottish Government has been in regular contact with each local authority where RAAC has been identified in schools. 'The Education Secretary met with West Lothian Council and visited St Kentigern's Academy and was reassured on progress made by the council in dealing with RAAC identified in the school. 'National guidance has been available from the Institute of Structural Engineers to local authorities since March 2022. That guidance remains good practice for councils to adhere to and uses a risk-based approach to manage RAAC.' After the meeting Andrew McGuire the executive councillor for Education said: 'It's great to hear how much progress has been made in re-building a significant part of St. Kentigern's Academy in Blackburn. 'St Kentigern's is a large secondary school that provides education to many young people from towns and villages in the west of West Lothian. 'We can now look forward to the new building at St Kentigern's being opened in 2026, which will deliver huge benefits for pupils and staff. 'Thanks to everyone at the school and those involved in the project for their hard work to ensure a major construction project can be delivered quickly with minimal impact on education.' The new building will feature a reception area, spacious canteen and dining area, a four-court Games Hall, Dance Studio, Fitness Suite and a changing area. Additional facilities will include a performance area, a range of learning spaces, a café and nurture rooms, all designed to enhance the learning environment for all of the young people who attend the school. The work has been completed while the school is operational, with every effort made to keep disruption to a minimum for a project of this scale. A temporary 'Learning Village' has been put in place to support learning, with some PE lessons and SQA exams the only activities that required additional space off-site. By Stuart Sommerville, Local Democracy Reporter Like this: Like Related
Edinburgh Live
2 days ago
- General
- Edinburgh Live
West Lothian school to reopen months ahead of schedule after closure due to RAAC
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info St Kentigern's Academy in Blackburn is set to open its new wing months ahead of schedule after a £50m rebuild. More than 60% of the school - one of the largest in West Lothian- had to be demolished because of RAAC roofing panels. While councillors welcomed the fact that school will be completed by March they voiced disappointment that the Scottish Government has yet to respond to pleas for £15m to help meet the costs. READ MORE: Calls for delayed West Lothian train station to be funded by Scottish Government The Executive heard that the council has budget a loan could face paying an extra £15m interest on that sum. A report to the executive said: 'Discussions remain ongoing with the Scottish Government around funding support to deliver the works required at St Kentigern's Academy. To date, no funding support has been confirmed.' Depute Chief Executive for Education Dr Elaine Cook told the meeting: 'For the first year in a number of years, we will be able to have all our SQA exams within the school site." Councillor Sally Pattle, Lib Dem, said: 'I really wanted to say a massive thank you from the outset, on behalf of councillors. Officers have kept us fully informed. They grasped the nettle in dealing with this situation.' "Fingers crossed we get some money from the Scottish Government." Depute SNP group leader Pauline Stafford echoed Councillor Pattle's thanks to officers and added ' A big thanks go to staff and students who have borne this really admirably. It has been a lot of upheaval.' Countering complaints that the Scottish Government had not responded to the council's plea for £15m costs Councillor Stafford said the council would be a better state if it had not had to pay £18m for PFI projects introduced by Labour. Conservative group leader, Damian Doran-Timson described that as "defending the indefensible" and criticised millions of pounds ' wasted by the Scottish Government'. He added: 'The issue here is the Scottish Government not supporting the council. Shame on the Scottish Government for not stepping in.' Labour councillor Tom Conn said: 'I'd like to thank officers for dealing with RAAC throughout all our schools estate. Not one penny has come from the Scottish Government to support this council. There's been criticism of the PFI which we are still paying off but this is what we are going to have to do if we don't get this support- paying off on the never never.' A Scottish Government spokesperson defended its record on funding schools, pointing to almost £24m of funding through the Schools for the Future Programme, spent on building or extending schools in the county and also financial support given through the Learning Estate Investment Programme. The spokesperson added: 'The Scottish Government has been in regular contact with each local authority where RAAC has been identified in schools. 'The Education Secretary met with West Lothian Council and visited St Kentigern's Academy, and was reassured on progress made by the council in dealing with RAAC identified in the school. 'National guidance has been available from the Institute of Structural Engineers to local authorities since March 2022. That guidance remains good practice for councils to adhere to and uses a risk-based approach to manage RAAC.' After the meeting Andrew McGuire the executive councillor for Education said: 'It's great to hear how much progress has been made in re-building a significant part of St. Kentigern's Academy in Blackburn. 'St Kentigern's is a large secondary school that provides education to many young people from towns and villages in the west of West Lothian. 'We can now look forward to the new building at St Kentigern's being opened in 2026, which will deliver huge benefits for pupils and staff. 'Thanks to everyone at the school and those involved in the project for their hard work to ensure a major construction project can be delivered quickly with minimal impact on education.' The new building will feature a reception area, spacious canteen and dining area, a four-court Games Hall, Dance Studio, Fitness Suite and a changing area. Additional facilities will include a performance area, a range of learning spaces, a café and nurture rooms, all designed to enhance the learning environment for all of the young people who attend the school. The work has been completed while the school is operational, with every effort made to keep disruption to a minimum for a project of this scale. A temporary "Learning Village" has been put in place to support learning, with some PE lessons and SQA exams the only activities that required additional space off-site. Sign up to Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox
Daily Record
4 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Record
Ten year West Lothian plan raises concern as council given just weeks to agree
Councillors may have just over a month before they are asked to agree to a 1,000-plus pages draft of evidence to submit to the Scottish Government for a new Local Development Plan. Concern has been raised over the amount of time West Lothian councillors have been given to consider a ten-year planning blueprint for the area. Councillors may have just over a month before they are asked to agree to a 1,000-plus pages draft of evidence to submit to the Scottish Government for a new Local Development Plan. The plan is a guide to what happens in the county between 2028 and 2038, and covers housing development, infrastructure, transport, and communities. But the initial hefty document brought more questions and criticism than answers this week. Linlithgow' Lib Dem councillor Sally Pattle told a meeting of the Economy Community Empowerment and Wealth Building PDSP that she had 'serious concerns' that councillors would have enough time ' to get this right.' The document - 1059 pages long - is the combined two years of evidence gathered which has to be presented to the Division of Planning and Environmental Appeals DPEA to be ' gate checked' as the foundation of the next Local Development Plan (LDP). This broad brush approach to evidence gathering threw up anomalies and outdated information which the SNP's Andrew Miller highlighted, including one suggestion that three buses served Livingston Village when in fact none do. Only half way through the meeting did councillors find out that council officers had based their ward evidence on community council boundaries, which threw up anomalies such as bus services. Councillors also picked over the lack of details in individual sections of the report demanding more detail be included before a final draft goes to a meeting of the full council and then on to the DPEA. Councillor Susan Manion stressed on several occasions that this was the first draft of the document and was open to change and improvement. All councillors moved to praise officers for the amount of work that has gone into the first draft. Councillor Pattle said: 'I am now seriously concerned as I have sat here for the past ninety minutes, it's been revealed that we are supposed to go to full council to agree this and that its five weeks time. 'I was under the impression that when it went to full council it would be after recess in September, giving us months to prepare for this.' Addressing the ranks of planning officers seated in the Livingston chamber, councillor Pattle continued: 'I appreciate your time today and I'm sorry that we have come across as hyper local but that's our job. 'We are here to scrutinise on behalf of our wards to make sure this incredibly important document is right when it goes to the gate check. 'I am now extremely concerned that we are not going to be given adequate opportunities to do that.' And she warned: 'Developers are going to be watching us like hawks. they are going to be using this as the basis for development for the next ten years. We have to get this right. I would like some reassurance that we are going to be given enough time to do that.' Fellow Linlithgow Councillor Pauline Orr, SNP, said: ' It's a huge piece of work and we are the face of our communities so we absolutely have to get it right.' She praised the 'amazing' work of the officers in producing the 1059 pages of evidence. Director of Planning Craig McCorriston moved to reassure the meeting that he was happy to meet councillors and take additional information from them to correct inaccuracies. He said that the draft evidence had to be ready to present to the DPEA by May 2028. The process is defined by government legislation but he conceded that the time frame for the council to prepare the draft was 'tight and we do have to work at speed.' He added: 'We have opened up to scrutiny today in a way which we hope is helpful to members and will engage further in the coming week to go through matters of concern or errors. Then we will ask the Provost to progress to a special meeting of the full council.' He stressed: 'If we get this wrong it is going to independent scrutiny and the DPEA Reporter will send it back to us if we have not gathered enough evidence. I'm pretty confident that we are just about there but am happy to take that extra few days to go through things with members.' Councillor Willie Boyle said: ' I'm looking forward to further opportunities to discuss it when it comes to actually putting the plan together. Power to your elbow I know we are up against a time schedule here and I fully accept that. We are where we are with that. We need to get it done.' Depute SNP group leader Pauline Stafford said: 'I'd like to acknowledge the work that's gone into this report and I hope members of the public will take time to read through it as well.' Councillor Stafford added: ' I sit on the Development Management [Committee] and the reason I do is because I think it has such a vital role to play in all we do in council. "This is what builds strong thriving communities. Planning is often, for elected members, misunderstood and for the public is often mistrusted, and as much transparency we can provide and show communities we have actually listened is vital.'
Edinburgh Reporter
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Edinburgh Reporter
Anxiety at tight time frame for ten-year masterplan
Concern has been raised over the amount of time West Lothian councillors have been given to consider a ten-year planning blueprint for the area. Councillors may have just over a month before they are asked to agree to a 1,000-plus pages draft of evidence to submit to the Scottish Government for a new Local Development Plan. The plan is a guide to what happens in the county between 2028 and 2038, and covers housing development, infrastructure, transport, and communities. But the initial hefty document brought more questions and criticism than answers this week. Linlithgow' Lib Dem councillor Sally Pattle told a meeting of the Economy Community Empowerment and Wealth Building PDSP that she had 'serious concerns' that councillors would have enough time 'to get this right.' The document – 1059 pages long – is the combined two years of evidence gathered which has to be presented to the Division of Planning and Environmental Appeals DPEA to be 'gate checked' as the foundation of the next Local Development Plan (LDP). This broad-brush approach to evidence gathering threw up anomalies and outdated information which the SNP's Andrew Miller highlighted, including one suggestion that three buses served Livingston Village when in fact none do. Only halfway through the meeting did councillors find out that council officers had based their ward evidence on community council boundaries, which threw up anomalies such as bus services. Councillors also picked over the lack of details in individual sections of the report demanding more detail be included before a final draft goes to a meeting of the full council and then on to the DPEA. Councilor Susan Manion stressed on several occasions that this was the first draft of the document and was open to change and improvement. All councillors moved to praise officers for the amount of work that has gone into the first draft. Councillor Pattle said: 'I am now seriously concerned as I have sat here for the past ninety minutes, it's been revealed that we are supposed to go to full council to agree this and that its five weeks' time. 'I was under the impression that when it went to full council it would be after recess in September, giving us months to prepare for this.' Addressing the ranks of planning officers seated in the Livingston chamber, councillor Pattle continued: 'I appreciate your time today and I'm sorry that we have come across as hyper local but that's our job. 'We are here to scrutinise on behalf of our wards to make sure this incredibly important document is right when it goes to the gate check. 'I am now extremely concerned that we are not going to be given adequate opportunities to do that.' And she warned: 'Developers are going to be watching us like hawks. they are going to be using this as the basis for development for the next ten years. We have to get this right. I would like some reassurance that we are going to be given enough time to do that.' Fellow Linlithgow Councillor Pauline Orr, SNP, said: 'It's a huge piece of work and we are the face of our communities, so we absolutely have to get it right.' She praised the 'amazing' work of the officers in producing the 1059 pages of evidence. Director of Planning Craig McCorriston moved to reassure the meeting that he was happy to meet councillors and take additional information from them to correct inaccuracies. He said that the draft evidence had to be ready to present to the DPEA by May 2028. The process is defined by government legislation, but he conceded that the time frame for the council to prepare the draft was 'tight and we do have to work at speed.' He added: 'We have opened up to scrutiny today in a way which we hope is helpful to members and will engage further in the coming week to go through matters of concern or errors. Then we will ask the Provost to progress to a special meeting of the full council.' He stressed: 'If we get this wrong it is going to independent scrutiny and the DPEA Reporter will send it back to us if we have not gathered enough evidence. I'm pretty confident that we are just about there but am happy to take that extra few days to go through things with members.' Councillor Willie Boyle said: 'I'm looking forward to further opportunities to discuss it when it comes to actually putting the plan together. Power to your elbow I know we are up against a time schedule here and I fully accept that. We are where we are with that. We need to get it done.' Depute SNP group leader Pauline Stafford said: 'I'd like to acknowledge the work that's gone into this report, and I hope members of the public will take time to read through it as well.' Councillor Stafford added: 'I sit on the Development Management [Committee] and the reason I do is because I think it has such a vital role to play in all we do in council. This is what builds strong thriving communities. Planning is often, for elected members, misunderstood and for the public is often mistrusted, and as much transparency we can provide and show communities we have actually listened is vital.' By Stuart Sommerville Local Democracy Reporter Like this: Like Related
Edinburgh Live
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Edinburgh Live
Ten year West Lothian plan raises concern as council given just weeks to agree
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Concern has been raised over the amount of time West Lothian councillors have been given to consider a ten-year planning blueprint for the area. Councillors may have just over a month before they are asked to agree to a 1,000-plus pages draft of evidence to submit to the Scottish Government for a new Local Development Plan. The plan is a guide to what happens in the county between 2028 and 2038, and covers housing development, infrastructure, transport, and communities. But the initial hefty document brought more questions and criticism than answers this week. Linlithgow' Lib Dem councillor Sally Pattle told a meeting of the Economy Community Empowerment and Wealth Building PDSP that she had 'serious concerns' that councillors would have enough time ' to get this right.' The document - 1059 pages long - is the combined two years of evidence gathered which has to be presented to the Division of Planning and Environmental Appeals DPEA to be ' gate checked' as the foundation of the next Local Development Plan (LDP). This broad brush approach to evidence gathering threw up anomalies and outdated information which the SNP's Andrew Miller highlighted, including one suggestion that three buses served Livingston Village when in fact none do. Only half way through the meeting did councillors find out that council officers had based their ward evidence on community council boundaries, which threw up anomalies such as bus services. Councillors also picked over the lack of details in individual sections of the report demanding more detail be included before a final draft goes to a meeting of the full council and then on to the DPEA. Councilor Susan Manion stressed on several occasions that this was the first draft of the document and was open to change and improvement. All councillors moved to praise officers for the amount of work that has gone into the first draft. Councillor Pattle said: 'I am now seriously concerned as I have sat here for the past ninety minutes, it's been revealed that we are supposed to go to full council to agree this and that its five weeks time. 'I was under the impression that when it went to full council it would be after recess in September, giving us months to prepare for this.' Addressing the ranks of planning officers seated in the Livingston chamber, councillor Pattle continued: 'I appreciate your time today and I'm sorry that we have come across as hyper local but that's our job. 'We are here to scrutinise on behalf of our wards to make sure this incredibly important document is right when it goes to the gate check. 'I am now extremely concerned that we are not going to be given adequate opportunities to do that.' And she warned: 'Developers are going to be watching us like hawks. they are going to be using this as the basis for development for the next ten years. We have to get this right. I would like some reassurance that we are going to be given enough time to do that.' Fellow Linlithgow Councillor Pauline Orr, SNP, said: ' It's a huge piece of work and we are the face of our communities so we absolutely have to get it right.' She praised the 'amazing' work of the officers in producing the 1059 pages of evidence. Director of Planning Craig McCorriston moved to reassure the meeting that he was happy to meet councillors and take additional information from them to correct inaccuracies. He said that the draft evidence had to be ready to present to the DPEA by May 2028. The process is defined by government legislation but he conceded that the time frame for the council to prepare the draft was "tight and we do have to work at speed.' He added: 'We have opened up to scrutiny today in a way which we hope is helpful to members and will engage further in the coming week to go through matters of concern or errors. Then we will ask the Provost to progress to a special meeting of the full council.' He stressed: 'If we get this wrong it is going to independent scrutiny and the DPEA Reporter will send it back to us if we have not gathered enough evidence. I'm pretty confident that we are just about there but am happy to take that extra few days to go through things with members.' Councillor Willie Boyle said: ' I'm looking forward to further opportunities to discuss it when it comes to actually putting the plan together. Power to your elbow I know we are up against a time schedule here and I fully accept that. We are where we are with that. We need to get it done.' Depute SNP group leader Pauline Stafford said: "I'd like to acknowledge the work that's gone into this report and I hope members of the public will take time to read through it as well.' Councillor Stafford added: ' I sit on the Development Management [Committee] and the reason I do is because I think it has such a vital role to play in all we do in council . This is what builds strong thriving communities. Planning is often, for elected members, misunderstood and for the public is often mistrusted, and as much transparency we can provide and show communities we have actually listened is vital.'
