I have placed the following item on the Agenda of the Education Committee next Monday.
I think parents living in or moving into the catchment area of Barnhill Primary School will expect the Council to plan ahead and revive these plans as a matter of urgency. I am therefore asking that a feasibility study is prepared and then brought back to the Education Committee later this year. I shall be recommending to the committee that this is not just a technical appraisal but also involves Head Teacher Pam Nesbitt and her staff and the Parent Council and Forum.
Of course this will not provide an immediate solution to the capacity concerns that arose earlier this year but might reassure families living in or moving into the Barnhill Primary School catchment area that that the council will have a longer term rather than makeshift solution to school capacity within the catchment area of Barnhill Primary School. Progressing my proposal would also help to reduce fears that public services in Broughty Ferry will not be able to cope with the planned growth in population principally in the north eastern part of The Ferry.
'Item 2 - Extension and Re-furbishment of Barnhill Primary School
This item has been placed on the agenda at the request of Councillor Bidwell.
He will ask the Education Committee to agree to the preparation of a feasibility study for the extension and refurbishment of Barnhill Primary School with a report back to Committee by November 2011.'
With confirmed demand for school places a growing issue in the catchment area of Barnhill Primary School, it makes sense for the council to revive its plans to refurbish and extend the school in a manner similar to the recent extension and refurbishment of Forthill Primary School. This could not only expand the capacity of the school to cope with an growing demand for places from parents who live in the catchment area but also upgrade facilities in the school that are already stretched. For example, the nursery classes are accommodated in temporary huts which is unusual in Dundee Schools.
In fact the council applied for and received outline planning consent for such a development in Spring 2002. In this planning application permission, in outline, was sought for:
In fact the council applied for and received outline planning consent for such a development in Spring 2002. In this planning application permission, in outline, was sought for:
'an extension to school with accommodation for educational and community use and replacement of temporary nursery unit at Barnhill Primary School, Falkland Crescent, Broughty Ferry, Dundee. The proposals for this school and nursery are to accommodate the forecast expansion of population in the east end of the city.'
Since letting this permission lapse in 2005, a considerable amount of house building has taken place within the school's catchment area and more land is zoned for large scale future housing developments. And the nursery is still in the huts.
I think parents living in or moving into the catchment area of Barnhill Primary School will expect the Council to plan ahead and revive these plans as a matter of urgency. I am therefore asking that a feasibility study is prepared and then brought back to the Education Committee later this year. I shall be recommending to the committee that this is not just a technical appraisal but also involves Head Teacher Pam Nesbitt and her staff and the Parent Council and Forum.
Of course this will not provide an immediate solution to the capacity concerns that arose earlier this year but might reassure families living in or moving into the Barnhill Primary School catchment area that that the council will have a longer term rather than makeshift solution to school capacity within the catchment area of Barnhill Primary School. Progressing my proposal would also help to reduce fears that public services in Broughty Ferry will not be able to cope with the planned growth in population principally in the north eastern part of The Ferry.
