South Scotland Labour MSP Colin Smyth and Dumfries and Galloway Councillor and Labour’s Education Spokesperson Paula Stevenson have accused the Scottish Government of an “utter betrayal” after it was announced that bids by Dumfries and Galloway Council for funding towards the refurbishment of Dumfries Academy, and the relocation of Loreburn Primary School to Minerva Hall, have been rejected.

After years of delays, the Scottish Government have announced the successful schools who will share up to £500 million of funding, as part of the Learning Estate Investment Programme (LEIP).

No schools in Dumfries and Galloway were awarded a share, which means the council will need to fully fund any work at Dumfries Academy, including the relocation of Loreburn Primary, on top of their recent commitment to pay for the new Dumfries High School.

Colin Smyth said: “This is an utter betrayal by the SNP Green Government of parents, pupils and teachers in Dumfries.

“It beggars belief that centuries old crumbling buildings, which parents have labelled as rat infested, are regarded as fit for purpose by Scottish Ministers and not worthy of a penny of support.

“It means no new school builds or refurbishments are taking place locally with funding from the Scottish Government and once again Dumfries and Galloway is the forgotten region.

“The council have given a very clear commitment to the community that they will complete the Dumfries Learning Town project.

“The Council Leader should honour that commitment and make it clear that the council will now fully fund all the work at Dumfries Academy.

“If the council fails to do so, they will be as guilty of a betrayal as the Scottish Government.

“The council should also dump the bonkers plan to create a split Dumfries Academy campus by ditching the proposal to use the Bridge as the Academy’s technical and science department.

“We were told they had to do that to meet Government criteria for funding. Well, they aren’t getting funding. This is now solely a council project and they should fund the work at the Academy – keeping the school on a single campus and using the Bridge for the purpose it was built for.”

Councillor Paul Stevenson said: “There will be real frustration and anger from the community over this decision.

“The whole project has been delayed because the government took years to open up the current round of school funding to bids. They then delayed an announcement, as construction costs rose and rose, and now they have walked away from Dumfries, turning their backs on pupils.

“The Learning Town project was meant to be completed by now, but pupils, parents and teachers will now be asking, will it ever be done?

“The Council now needs to make sure it is completed and honour their commitment to the community.

“That will mean funding it within their own capital budget. If improving our schools isn’t the priority for this funding, then it would simply show this council has the wrong priorities.”