Schools work set to start

Phase One of Dumfries Learning Town will create a campus housing nursery, primary, secondary and complex needs education, ready for occupation in spring 2018.
Education committee chairman Councillor Jeff Leaver said: “I’m delighted that we’ve got to this stage – not just in terms of North West but also Dalbeattie campus and St Joseph’s.
“We’re now making real progress with Phase One of Dumfries Learning Town, and we’re continuing to develop Phase Two.”
The North West Campus will replace Maxwelltown High School, Lochside and St Ninians primaries and provide a purpose-built replacement to Langlands.
Dumfries and Galloway Council say the site will be more central to the community, with 81 per cent of pupils living within one kilometre.
And boasting a community focus, it will incorporate a public library and customer services facility, and with a hydrotherapy pool serving Langlands. There will also be a synthetic full sized rugby pitch, available to the community outwith school hours.
Facilities have meanwhile been put in place to decant staff and pupils at St Joseph’s College next term.
That £24 million project will see the demolition of one block, demolition of the existing PE and dining block, redevelopment of two other blocks, and construction of a sports extension.
Work starts next month and runs until August 2018, with the building ready for pupils from February 2018.
Construction of The Bridge learning facility is due to begin next to King George V off Glasgow Road in late autumn, while work is progressing at the Dalbeattie Learning Campus site.
Looking to secure funding for Phase Two, which includes redeveloping Dumfries Academy and creating a North East campus, Mr Leaver said: “We’re obviously depending on the Government to give us a hand with the financing of all these projects.”