Parish priest: Fr. Tom Wynne. Tel/Fax: 01397-
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Blessed Mary MacKillop web site: www.gaeldom.com/mmk
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RC Diocese of Argyll & the Isles Charity
Registration No. SC002876
Roy Bridge School Saved!
True to their earlier statement, the Independent, SNP and local councillors were so assured of the unanimous support of other councillors throughout the region that, when Roy Bridge School came up on the agenda on Thursday at the meeting of the full Highland Region General Council, it was passed without a vote being taken! There was only one dissenter!
The village thanks the councillors for their magnificent support, and it also owes a tremendous debt of gratitude to the indefatigable parents’ committee who never gave up, even when things looked hopeless.
By careful investigation, the committee members found a serious error in the financial statement supporting the closure of the Roy Bridge school and the amalgamation with Spean Bridge Primary, which was presented to the village by the Education committee’s accounts department.
With the change of councillors after last May’s election, there was a new incentive by local councillors to have another look at the school’s closure, and with their support, the committee were determined that the school could be saved. It took and immense about of time and effort, but, in the end, it proved to be successful, and it was with intense satisfaction and joy that the members present in Inverness at the General Council Meeting on Thursday heard the councillors give a vote of confidence to Roy Bridge to retain its school. Now is the time to uncork the champagne and celebrate!
The future of the village owes a lot to the committee members who fought with such great determination over the past year to save the school, but it also owes immense
gratitude to those in the past who, from the very beginning, opposed Bruce Robertson, the Education chairman, at the first meeting which took place in Roy Bridge school over two years ago. This stopped the planners in their tracks when another viable and innovative solution was put forward. The controversy continued long enough until a new council was elected, which gave the present committee incentive to have another go at saving the school. And now it is with confidence that we look forward to the day when new houses may be built in our area, and that these might attract parents with young families to come and live here. How often it is said by committees of rural areas all over the country, desperately trying to save their schools, who say: “Close our school and you will rip out the heart of the community.”
Well, the heart of our community is now beating loud and strong, and will pump a new vitality into the village for generations to come.
The village thanks everyone who, over the years, have contributed towards the effort to help save our school.
Once the committee has drawn its breath, the next campaign for the future will be to try to replace the present building with a brand new school!
The people of Spean Bridge also rejoice with us at the outcome. This victory must give new hope to other rural areas whose schools are under threat.