The leader of Argyll and Bute Council has welcomed the Scottish Government’s latest update on its School Building Programme.

Councillor Dick Walsh said the update, which re-stated the Government’s funding commitment to the initiative and confirmed that the proposed Dunoon Primary Campus is included in the list of projects to receive funding, was ‘welcome and very positive’.

The council is currently developing an Outline Business Case for the proposed project, which is expected will be completed by Christmas.

In November 2009, the Government announced that 21 bids had been successful in the latest round of school funding applications.

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One of these was Argyll and Bute’s proposal to amalgamate the three primary schools in Dunoon – Dunoon, Kirn and St Mun’s – and associated nurseries into one new-build campus.

Yesterday’s announcement confirms that the Government is still fully supportive of the Dunoon plans, and indicates that 2013/14 is the likely time for a funding allocation to start.

“The fact that the Government has come out and re-stated its support for this proposal is welcome and very positive,” Councillor Walsh said.

“Although the project is still at an early stage of development, it is one which we believe represents an exciting and innovative solution to the significant challenges posed by Dunoon’s deteriorating primary school buildings.

“Over the next few months, we will continue to develop an Outline Business Case in consultation with our partners, including the Roman Catholic Diocese of Argyll and the Isles.

“We will of course be consulting with parents and all other interested parties as the plans progress and we start to draw up a firm proposal.”

(GK)