Turf cutting ceremonies are being held today, Thursday 29 May, in Fort William to mark the start of construction on two new schools for The Highland Council.

Works have commenced on a new school at Lundavra Road to replace the existing Fort William and Upper Achintore Primary Schools; and on a dedicated Gaelic Primary School at Ardgour Road in Caol.

Lochaber Highland Councillors and Members of the Council's Gaelic Implementation Group were joined by Council officials, and key representatives from contactors GRAHAM Construction at the Lundavara site and Robertson Construction Northern at the Ardgour site.

Councillor Alasdair Christie, Chair of the Council's Education, Children and Adult Services Committee said: "The turf cutting ceremonies are key milestones in the Council’s very significant capital programme of investment to provide modern schools in the Highlands and Fort William."

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The ceremonies marked the start of the first two of three constructions projects in the Council's programme of new primary schools for the Fort William area.

At Lundavra Road, GRAHAM Construction is building an eleven classroom school with community facilities that will replace the existing Fort William and Upper Achintore Primary Schools.

At Ardgour Road, Robertson Construction Northern is starting works on a Gaelic Primary School with community facilities. The school will have four classrooms initially with the capacity to be extended by up to a further four classrooms if required.

The third project - at which works are yet to start - include a joint campus building to accommodate an eight classroom school to replace Caol Primary School and a six classroom school combining the existing Fort William and Lochyside Roman Catholic Primary Schools along with the construction of a new Caol Community Centre building. These will be built on the current Caol site and will involve the demolition of the existing community centre and school buildings.

(CD/IT)