New school building wins green light

CONSTRUCTION of the new upper primary school in Dunbar is set to begin next month after councillors approved a £6.9 million contract.

The existing Dunbar Primary School on Lammermuir Crescent will continue to provide pre-school education and primary one to three classes, while the new building welcomes children from primaries four to seven.

Construction work is due to start on the new school at Hallhill in April, with completion expected in 2012.

The decision to develop a "lower" and "upper" primary school in Dunbar was taken due to an increase in pupil numbers, caused by new housing developments and rising birth rates in the area.

The total capital spend on the project will be around 9.8m.

Dunbar and East Linton councillor, Paul McLennan, said: "This is a major investment in the Dunbar area.

"It has taken a number of years and many public meetings to get us to this point and I know the community is looking forward to having a new school."