The Press and Journal’s headline on Wednesday described the new build project as “being in limbo”.  The positive news is that on Tuesday The Moray Council has agreed their side of the necessary funding.  A solution is in sight to overcome the difficulties about planning permission relating to the disposal of the peat.  Work on the construction of the extension of Edgar Road past Greenwards Primary has been given the green light and should start on Monday.  Those are the positives.

The negative news is that we will not be able to go to financial closure in June.  The problem over “ESA 10” – financial regulation requiring agreement between the Scottish and UK governments and the European Union – is not going to be resolved quickly.  This is not an EHS problem and it is also having an impact on a number of other public sector projects across Scotland.  At the earliest there might be progress is by the end of the summer holidays.  This obviously means a delay in the start of the project and consequently in the completion date.

To describe the reaction to the delay as “disappointing” is an understatement.  The Parent Council met on Wednesday and expressed the frustration of parents, pupils and the community at large.  This feeling is equally shared by staff who have already started the preparation work of clearing departments.  The Moray Council staff working on the planning, and Balfour Beatty, are equally frustrated after all the work that has gone into getting ready for a June start to work.  Next Wednesday a team from Moray will be in Edinburgh giving a presentation on the aspirations for the new build to the Scottish Futures Trust and Scottish Government representatives.  We will be listening out for any positive news of developments.