Fears schools to be axed in review as upgrade cost put at £60m

A RAFT of future school closures are feared in Argyll after the local council revealed the huge cost of improving its crumbling school estate.

A report published yesterday, which councillors will be asked to approve next week before submission to the Scottish Government, estimates that it would cost 60 million to bring Argyll and Bute's school estate into top condition.

The backlog of maintenance work alone would cost 25m.

Now councillors will be asked to agree to a "detailed and objective review" of all its schools.

Council leader Dick Walsh said: "I accept any discussion of the school estate runs the risk of causing anxiety for pupils, parents and staff."

"The future of any particular school is not up for discussion at this stage. We cannot consider any potential next steps until we have drawn up a comprehensive database of information on the entire school estate."

But Argyll and Bute Liberal Democrat MP Alan Reid said: "The report clearly shows the council is planning to close schools. It will cause a great deal of concern to parents and pupils.

"The Scottish Government has given Argyll and Bute no money to rebuild our crumbling schools while many other councils in Scotland have received money. It's high time the Scottish Government gave Argyll and Bute a fair share of the cake and this would avoid the need for school closures."

Mr Walsh said the review would "provide the council with a very solid base on which to identify a sustainable way forward while minimising any possible adverse effect on educatio outcomes".