Border Telegraph | News | Public inquiry date set for Lauder school site

Tuesday, 6th January, 2009

Published: Tuesday, 1st November, 2005 10:40

Public inquiry date set for Lauder school site

By Border Telegraph Newsroom

LAUDER residents’ long wait for a public inquiry on the site they want for a new primary school will end next month.

Scottish Borders Council members gave the green light for the school to be built at Allanbank earlier in the year, but the proposals were later called in by the Scottish Executive.

Campaigners for the site were frustrated that proceedings had become bogged down in red tape over the summer, and were left waiting for a date for the public inquiry to determine its fate.

Meanwhile, SBC education chiefs, uncertain when and if the Allanbank site would be approved, began a consultation with the Lauder public to find out if they were prepared to wait for the public inquiry, or to begin work at Wyndhead, the location previously rejected by the community.

But now the Scottish Executive has set a date of December 13 for the public inquiry, to be held over four days in Lauder Public Hall.

Local councillor, Douglas Younger, is relieved that the process is on the move again.

He said: “I think the community is pleased that the Scottish Executive reporter has decided to hold it early, and I am very pleased that it will be determined by Christmas.

“The community has worked very hard to bring the site forward. They developed it and this was identified as being the best site for a school. It is unfortunate that it has been called in, but there is huge support within Lauder for this being the site.

“It will test the Scottish Executive. They say they welcome involvement from the local community in planning, and I think there would be massive disappointment if the report goes against the site.”

Meanwhile, the outcome of the education department’s consultation will be revealed on November 10, when a clearer picture of the public’s patience with Allanbank will become apparent.

Councillor Younger is certain he knows what the answer will be.

He said: “I would be very surprised if the majority wasn’t for Allanbank. As a councillor, I have heard very few people in favour of the Wyndhead site.

“Lauder is very lucky in having two good school sites. Wyndhead is a reasonable site for a school, but it is on the edge of Lauder, and it would be more difficult for the pupils to walk to school.”

And Councillor Younger is also aware that the education department cannot wait forever to finalise a site for the new primary school, and that time is running out for Allanbank.

Talking about the consultation process, he said: “It is understandable, but they did come out very strongly to back the Allanbank site.

“I think, if the Scottish Executive reporter were to take time to reach a decision, then there is a definite risk that we could lose the Allanbank site. The money has been spent and they can’t wait any longer.

“There would be huge disappointment if that was the outcome.”

Social Bookmarking What are these?