News / Green light for new Anderson High
DESIGN work on a new £42 million secondary school in Lerwick can now proceed after the project was given the final go ahead this week.
On Wednesday the government-appointed building consortium Hub North Scotland announced it had been approved to build the new school and halls of residence beside the Clickimin Leisure Complex.
The contract will also involve refurbishing the leisure centre itself for use by the hundreds of pupils who will attend the new school once it is completed by 2016.
The news comes as Shetland Islands Councils embarks on a major intensive consultation on the future of secondary education in the isles, which will determine how many students attend the new school.
Next Tuesday evening the council will be holding public meetings in Lerwick and Brae, as well as eight meetings during the week with parent and community councils to discuss five options.
The move is part of the council’s attempts to slash its education budget by £3.268 million over the next few years.
Costings for the different options, which include keeping the junior highs open but managing them from a central hub, will be released in the next few days.
The outcome of the consultation will be assessed by independent education consultant Professor Don Ledingham, a former education director of Midlothian Council, who will present a report to councillors on 13 November.
Meanwhile next Thursday the full council will make a final decision on whether to close the two pupil secondary department on the isle of Skerries and the eight pupil primary at Olnafirth.
Education and families committee chairwoman Vaila Wishart welcomed the news that the Anderson High School project had been finally approved, with two thirds of the cost being met by the Scottish government.
“After such a long time it is good to know that a new Anderson High School will now be designed and built over the next couple of years,” she said.
The Hub North Scotland consortium has a 10 year pipeline of projects worth £435 million, including replacing Inverness Royal Academy for £31 million and building a new Wick Community Campus for £50 million.
Chief executive Angus Macfarlane said they were now ready to move forward to the design phase.
“It is encouraging to see momentum building and we look forward to working with Shetland Islands Council and the community to continue this progress,” he said.
“There has already been extensive consultation with all of the stakeholders and that will continue throughout the process.”
He said that local firms had already approached them for potential contract opportunities and lead contractor Miller Construction would be holding a “meet the buyer” event later this year.
“It is too early to outline specific contract opportunities but we will remain in constant contact with the local business community to ensure all parties are kept up-to-date.”
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