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Rotten window frames photographed last year. To buy: c08toy01 |
THE future of Campbeltown Nursery and the safety of its staff and children are under threat after the building has been described as ‘not fit for purpose’ by Kintyre councillors.
The building is in an appalling state of repair with a leaky roof in many parts, a room unable to be used because of mould and windows not being able to be opened for ventilation as it is feared they may fall in.
In February last year parents got together to try to get something done about a replacement building and photographs taken by The Courier at that time showed rotten wood and peeling paint around the outside of the building. Now a meeting has been called between parents and councillors to once again try and get something done about the crumbling building, which took place as The Courier went to press.
The flat-roofed temporary building from the 1970s was described last year as ‘coming to the end of its useful life’, but a year on it is still in full use with the Nursery Group, Meadows Under-Fives, and the Toy Library still being held in the building.
Argyll and Bute Council banned The Courier from entering onto the premises of Campbeltown Nursery this week so updated photographs were unable to be taken, but parents have once again expressed their fear for their children’s safety, particularly with the recent windy and wet weather we have experienced.
When parents contacted Argyll and Bute Council, they were told that the council is not committing funding to the building because a plan for education in Campbeltown has not been drawn up yet.
Councillor Donald Kelly has invited both the director of community services Douglas Hendry and spokeswoman for education and lifelong learning, Isobel Strong to Campbeltown to see for themselves the state the nursery is in, and although they were in thetown in December they said they did not have time to look at the nursery. But neither has been back since.
Councillor Kelly said: ‘Argyll and Bute Council have a moral responsibility to replace this building as a matter of urgency. If it was any other area you can guarantee it would have been replaced by now. This building is no longer fit for purpose and I have been pushing this issue since June last year.
‘I have asked the Council’s health and safety department to carry out a report on the building. It is important that this issue is brought to a conclusion as soon as possible and I will endeavour to keep working to this end.’
With the School Estate Strategy looking at a possible joining of rural primary schools and Campbeltown Grammar School, similar to what has been done in Lochgilphead, there would not be much point in spending money for new permanent facilities for the nursery if one was to be built joining together all the education facilities in Campbeltown, including the nursery, in a few years time.
Councillor Kelly suggested a modular building to replace the existing building that could be moved about. He said: ‘In September 2007, I asked the Council’s Capital Programme manager to cost a new modular building which would meet the requirements of the existing nursery. This was costed at approximately £400,000.
‘The reason for asking for a modular building was that if changes were made to the existing school estate this building could be replaced if required.’
Councillor Rory Colville has asked for a full report at the April meeting of the Argyll and Bute Council’s area committee.
He said: ‘We have asked for a report at the April meeting of the area committee regarding the nursery and the facility it provides.
‘It is obvious the building cannot wait until we make the decision for the school estate as this decision is four or five years away.
‘No longer fit for use’
‘Hopefully the area committee can make a decision on a way forward for the nursery. The building is no longer fit for use.’
A council spokeswoman said: ‘We’re looking at a number of options regarding the refurbishment or replacement of Campbeltown Nursery and a report will submitted to the area committee later in the year.’
Parent Carolyn Renton has written two letters to the council concerning the building. She has a son at the nursery who will be leaving this year and a daughter who will be starting Meadows Under-fives this year which is held at the nursery and she is concerned about the state of the building.
She said: ‘The council have responded to the letters I have written but I have been told that they can’t give a definite response as to what will happen to that building and whether they can commit any funding or not.
‘The building is in an appalling state of repair but they had wanted to wait for the education plan for Campbeltown to be drawn up before a decision regarding this building was made which is several years down the line, as far as we are concerned this cannot wait another year.’
Councillor John Semple said: ‘The state of repair of our educational establishments across South Kintyre is found wanting in many respects, but none more so than at Campbeltown Nursery.
‘This is a legacy of neglect from previous councils which I am keen to see tackled in a level-headed, non-political way.
‘To me, as a lay person, the building seems unfit for purpose, patching it up is not cost effective and a serious drain on the taxpayer.
‘Progressing with a new build now would be irresponsible until we know what the options for the remainder of the school estate will look like.
‘Further consultations on the school estate will take place in the coming months. The priority for the families using the nursery today will be, I’m sure, to have a suitable, well equipped, space which meets the requirements of the care commission and is wind and watertight. Campbeltown has no shortage of underutilised space. Such a building, or space within one, should be identified and arrangements made to relocate the present nursery until the School Estate Strategy is implemented, even if it means some upheaval for others.’
