South Scotland Labour MSP Colin Smyth and Dumfries and Galloway Councillor and Labour’s Education Spokesperson Paula Stevenson have accused the Scottish Government of putting pupils at risk by holding up urgent refurbishments in the region’s schools.

A report to Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Education Committee earlier in the year said plans for the multi-million-pound Dumfries Learning Town scheme were up in the air due to sky-rocketing construction costs – and major doubts over funding.

The report stated that ‘Whilst it was anticipated that a decision would be made by the end of 2022, to date no decision has been shared with any local authority, and there is no indication of when a decision announcement will be made. The reasons for this delay are unknown’.

It was announced this week that two schools awaiting refurbishment as part of the Learning Town programme- Dumfries Academy and Laurieknowe Primary were found to contain potentially dangerous concrete – along with Gatehouse of Fleet Primary and Carrutherstown Primary.

Speaking in the Scottish Parliament yesterday (5 September) Colin Smyth challenged the Scottish Government over delays in funding for the Learning Town project. He said: “In December 2021, the Government told the Parliament that it would publish in 2022 the schools that would form phase 3 of the learning estate investment programme. It failed to do so.

“In May, then in June, the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills said that there would be an announcement by the summer recess, but she failed to deliver that announcement. How many schools—such as Dumfries Academy—are at risk due to RAAC whose refurbishment or rebuild is being held up because of the failure of the Government to announce the funding that it promised to announce months ago?”

Speaking after the debate Colin Smyth added: “Schools such as Dumfries Academy have been deteriorating for years and now we are hearing that the site has this potentially dangerous concrete.

“When new schools were built in many other parts of the region, pupils and teachers at Dumfries Academy and also schools like Loreburn Primary were put to the back of the queue and have been held up by the Government’s inaction over funding. The longer we wait the more children’s safety will be put at risk.”

Meanwhile Dumfries and Galloway Labour Group Education Spokesperson Councillor Paula Stevenson has called on the Scottish Government to provide emergency short-term funding to cover any initial work needed in the affected schools, including Laurieknowe Primary in her ward which has seen two offices closed.

She said: “This situation is understandably very concerning for local parents and we are calling on the Scottish Government to ensure they fully fund any monitoring and short term work needed to make sure they are safe.

“There have been concerns over the historic use of this concrete in public buildings for many years. The Scottish Government has been slow in coming up with a proper plan to tackle the problem, backed by funding.

“The fight to get Dumfries Learning Town completed safely and in its entirety has been rumbling on for years, and parents and pupils are getting sick of the constant delays and excuses.”