The first turf has been cut on the site of a new joint campus for primary schools in Caol, Fort William.

The ambitious project involves the demolition of the current Caol Primary School and Caol Community Centre to pave the way for a joint campus building. The new facility would accommodate a nine-classroom school, to replace Caol Primary, as well as a six-classroom school which would replace the existing Fort William and Lochyside Roman Catholic Primary Schools.

The new schools are scheduled to open in August 2016.

For the Community Centre, the existing building will remain in place throughout the first phase of the works until the new centre is ready. Demolition of the existing school and the remaining external works will then be carried out to complete the project.

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Kier Construction has been appointed for the development.

Councillor Alasdair Christie, Chair of The Highland Council's Education, Children and Adult Services Committee, said: "I am delighted that this is the third turf cutting for a new school buildings project in Lochaber in recent weeks. This is great news for Lochaber that Highland Council is committing such large sums of money to improving schooling in Fort William, especially as it comes on top of the major investment in Lochaber High School."

Sean O'Callaghan, area operations director of Kier Construction added: "Kier is delighted to be associated with this exciting new joint school campus and new community centre at Caol. This is a significant investment into the Highland economy and we look forward to working with the local community to develop these new buildings that will meet with their aspirations and provide employment opportunities for local construction businesses and apprentices during the construction phase."

(JP/CD)