Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.
Residents of Mull are challenging the local council’s plan to construct a new school, sparking a legal battle over the proposed location. The Argyll and Bute Council’s decision to build a £43m school campus near the current high school in Tobermory has raised concerns among many parents. They argue that a more centrally located school would eliminate the need for students from the southern part of the island to travel by ferry to Oban for their education and stay at hostels during the week.
The dispute will be settled in the Court of Session in Edinburgh, where a judicial review will determine the legality of the council’s decision. The outcome of the review could potentially lead to a reevaluation of the consultation process conducted by the council, but it may not ultimately change the location of the proposed school. The review process entails an examination of the lawfulness of decisions made by public authorities, offering a legal avenue for challenging controversial choices.
The Mull Campus working group representative, Joe Reade, lamented the practice of sending children off the island for schooling as outdated and unnecessary. He emphasized the need for a modern solution that prioritizes local access to education without incurring additional costs. The debate over the school’s location has deep-rooted divisions among Mull residents, particularly concerning the long commutes faced by students living in different parts of the island.
Despite fundraising efforts and petitions, the council remains steadfast in its decision to proceed with the construction of the new school in Tobermory. Campaigners have received backing from the education secretary, Jenny Gilruth, who reassured them that alternative proposals would not jeopardize the promised government funding. The ongoing legal challenge underscores the community’s determination to seek a more equitable solution to the longstanding issue of school infrastructure on the Isle of Mull
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.