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Land bought for new special school in Dingwall

St Clement's School
  • Published

Highland Council has bought land in Dingwall for a new school for pupils with additional support needs.

The greenfield site near Docharty Brae on the edge of the town has been purchased for an undisclosed sum.

Dingwall's existing special school - St Clement's - is not fit for purpose and has corridors and doorways that are unsuitable for wheelchair use.

Parents have been campaigning for a new school for 20 years.

The local authority was recently unsuccessful in bidding for Scottish government funding to help with construction costs.

Housing and property committee chairwoman Glynis Campbell-Sinclair said the council could not afford to begin construction of a new school, but purchasing the land took the project "a significant step closer".

She added that 37% of Highland schools were rated as being in poor condition and they had requested a meeting with the Scottish government to discuss investment options.