Ayr Academy could be set for move

Apr 3 2009 by Stuart Wilson

SCOTLAND’S oldest school looks set to move out of Ayr town centre.

Ayr Academy is being lined up for a switch to Dalmilling golf course.

South Ayrshire Council will bid for a £30million government bounty to build the super-school.

SNP leader Nan McFarlane came clean on the council’s vision during a meeting with golfers.

She revealed: “We think there may be an opportunity to get one-off funding for a school.

“When you look at the condition of our school estate, which is dreadful, the worst school we have got is Ayr Academy.

“There will be money coming from the Scottish Government. It will be a one-off and it will be an opportunity that we need to jump on.

“We need to be ready and I know that the director of education is ready. He has got a plan on the table and that would be the ideal opportunity to put Ayr Academy on Dalmilling golf course. That is the plan we have got at the moment.”

The school, based in the town’s Fort Street since 1800, has more than 700 pupils.

Former famous students include Mike Denness, Sir David Murray, Karen Dunbar, Iain McLauchlan and Ian Ure.

But age has taken its toll on the building and its days could be numbered if the ambitious bid goes through.

SNP councillor Tom Slider, who also met with golfers, added: “We’re in the 21st century but Ayr Academy is a school fit for the 20th century.

“The Scottish Government says money is available so if we act quickly we can prepare our bid.

“Should that bid fail, the SNP have pledged to support the golfers in keeping the course open.

“It would be petty for us to close it for no reason.”

But council leader Hugh Hunter is still singing from a different hymn sheet and claims no knowledge of any bid.

He insisted: “I have no information on funding that is available for schools.

“There has been no change since we made our budget announcement to close Dalmilling.

“We are still carrying out a review into the future use of the golf course and theoretically that could last until the end of the year.”

However, golfers have pledged to fight tooth and nail to keep their course now that the cat is out the bag.

Dalmilling Action Group spokesperson Jackie Ridge said: “We were stunned and extremely disappointed to find out the real plan from Nan McFarlane.

“All we’ve had so far is contradictory answers from South Ayrshire Council but at least she’s had the decency to be honest with us now.

“If this closure is dependant on Scottish Government funding, then we’ll be asking the First Minister how South Ayrshire Council could possibly be considered when their closure of a golf course to create a school is against Scottish Government policy.”