Aberdeenshire Council has said a number of projects in its £102m Capital Plan for 2013/14 are on schedule.

Among the projects, are three new secondary schools, a new care village and major school improvement works.

Advance work on the £37m Alford Community Campus began in October, with the main construction work set to commence in early 2014. Construction works on two more new secondary schools for Aberdeenshire, at Laurencekirk and Ellon, also continue on schedule.

Major refurbishment and extension works at Kemnay Academy have started ahead of schedule. The first phase is due to be complete by April 2014, with all the works scheduled for completion before the start of the new term in August 2014. A new primary school at Hillside, Portlethen's third primary, is also among the new school projects on the capital plan.

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Elsewhere, grant funding of £900,000 from Zero Waste Scotland's Food Waste Collections programme will be used towards the purchase of 46 new recycling and waste collection vehicles, while plans for a new £1.8m Family Centre at Victoria Street in Inverurie have been added to the Capital Plan.

In addition, Councillors have approved costs for the £2m Westfield Community Hub and Family Centre in Fraserburgh. This project will be delivered in three phases.

Commenting on the Capital Plan, Chair of the Policy and Resources Committee, Councillor Jim Gifford, said: "This Capital Plan is one of the most ambitious programmes of new build and improvements works that the council has undertaken in recent years and I am pleased to see that, on the whole, works are progressing on schedule and to budget.

"These projects will ensure the council continues to provide the high standard of services that Aberdeenshire residents expect."

(JP/CD)