Contractors have been joined by project partners, councillors and pupils and parents to mark the official start of the ambitious project to create a new Campbeltown Grammar School.

At the event South Kintyre Councillor Rory Colville, Argyll and Bute Council's Policy Lead for Education, said: "Everyone involved in educating and supporting our young people is committed to realising the council's ambition to make Argyll and Bute a place people choose to live, learn, work and do business.

"This £26million new school will help to equip our children for the future; providing them with a fabulous facility in which they can learn and succeed, be ambitious and realise their full potential.


"The construction of the new school, with capacity for up to 500 pupils, is expected to be complete towards the spring of 2018 with the external works following.

"The modern three-story school building with associated new 3G sports pitch, music pavilion and enlarged car parking  and a new dedicated pupil drop off area will replace the current 1960's buildings."

Angus Macfarlane, chief executive of hub North Scotland, added: "The turf cutting is an important milestone for the new Campbeltown Grammar School project and signals the start in construction of what will be a first-class educational facility that will bring a host of wider benefits to both the town and the surrounding area.

"hub North Scotland is delighted to be delivering the project on behalf of Argyll and Bute Council and we look forward to continuing to work with all key partners to ensure its successful completion. We are committed to overseeing the delivery of a facility that the council, along with the children and young people it will serve, will be proud of."

(MH)