A decision is expected to be made next week regarding the new West Calder High School.

Next week (16 December), West Lothian Council's Education Executive will consider proposals in relation to the preferred location and statutory consultation process for the new facility.

Currently, the preferred location has been identified as an area of council-owned land located to the east of Parkhead Primary School. If this location is approved, it will allow for the consultation process to begin in January 2015.

Executive Councillor for Education, Lawrence Fitzpatrick, commented: "I am delighted that plans to replace West Calder High School are progressing well. The new school will represent the largest single investment in West Calder in a generation, and I'm sure will be warmly welcomed by the local community.

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"The current school is fifty years old, so replacing it with a state-of-the-art school can only improve the quality of education that we can provide for local children in the future."

He continued: "Initial studies suggest the preferred site would be suitable for the school, with more detailed site investigations currently being carried out. The proposals for location of the school and statutory consultation timescales will now be considered by Education Executive members at our meeting on Tuesday, 16 December.

"It is necessary for the consultation to start in early 2015, to ensure the project will be complete by March 2018, in line with the funding agreement with the Scotland's Schools of the Future programme."

(JP/MH)