New AHS a step nearer reality as plans are lodged
Neil Riddell
The SIC has kicked off a three-month consultation on plans for the new Anderson High School.
Design team Ryder Architects has lodged papers with the local planning department pinpointing the location of the four-storey 1,180-pupil secondary school building.
It is to go on a 21-hectare site slightly to the north-west of the Clickimin. Shetland Recreational Trust’s leisure centre is to get a new gym, fitness suite and changing rooms as part of the development.
An additional support needs department and a three-tier hostel accommodating up to 100 pupils, next to the rugby pitch, also form part of the £36 million project. New access roads and a roundabout also form part of the plans.
The formal consultation will run for 12 weeks, with letters being sent to all of the area’s residents. A public presentation will happen in the “near future”, a council spokeswoman said, though a date has not been set as yet.
Children’s services director Helen Budge last month estimated that the Clickimin extension, which will avert the need for a more costly new PE department, will cost roughly £1.5 million from within the overall budget.
SRT has agreed in principle to sell the land housing its campsite to make way for the school. Talks with the SIC are continuing on the fine detail.
Two-thirds of the project’s funding is coming from the Scottish Government, whose quick-fire timetable envisages construction work beginning in March 2014.
Should that happen it will finally lay to rest a saga which has rumbled on for quarter of a century, as successive councils chopped and changed their minds about the project at a cost of more than £5 million.
Education and families committee chairwoman Vaila Wishart said it was a “significant and welcome step” towards completion of the new AHS and hostel for pupils. “I’d encourage everyone to view the plans, and we’d obviously welcome any feedback.”
You can read the papers in full here.
Charlie Banham
Is a new-build school really necessary? – the existing magnificent AHS is a Listed Building, which is is architecturally beautiful and it would cost significantly less to renovate and modernise the interior, rather than build a new glass and concrete monstrosity, which within a few years, all of the non-visually impaired Shetland residents (including me) will see it as we do the Holyrood Scottish Parliament Building in Edinburgh: Ugly , Boring and a waste of money. OUR hard-earned money!!
And another thing…. £36million? – if you believe that then you also must believe in the tooth fairy. Tell me please when was the last time a government project was finished on-time AND on budget? Closer, in fact much closer to £65 million is more like it. Cut & paste this for future reference, after those making these pipe-dream decisions are long gone, leaving the mess for others to sort out
Hello! is anyone listening?
Sarah Harding
Hmmmm how long has it taken to come this far……my guess is 15 years?! how much has been spent so far?! crazy!!