Forres Academy site objections from Applegrove Primary School community

Pupils, parents and residents turned out to protest a decision to build a new secondary on a primary school’s playground.

Applegrove Primary Parent Council organised the demonstration at their school gates on Wednesday afternoon to highlight the loss of common good land marked for use for the new Forres Academy - space already well-used by the school and wider community.

A parent council spokesperson explained that decision-makers Moray Council have stated that, even without the sections going to be used, Applegrove will still meet the minimum legal requirement for play area.

She said: “It’s wrong that legislation designed to protect children in, for example, inner city areas is being used by the local authority to defend the removal of green space from children living in a rural area.

“It simply doesn’t need to happen when an alternative site for the new Forres Academy is available.”

Despite the results of a public survey by the local authority earlier this year showing that Lochyhill near Forbeshill is the community’s preferred site for the new school, Moray Council is pushing ahead with plans to complete works at Roysvale by December, 2027.

The parent council spokesperson pointed out that the council has argued that Anderson’s Primary School does not have a playing field.

“This is not a justification,” she said. “Anderson’s has access to, and uses, Grant Park. Applegrove does not have the proximity to Grant Park to make that a practical alternative for our pupils so they will simply be left with no playing field.

“This is not acceptable at a time when the benefits of outdoor space and learning are so well known.”

Fellow parent council member, Fiona Hepburn, has been leading a playground improvement project at Applegrove over the last few years. She explained that, following extensive consultation, planning, design and fundraising, facilities to enhance the school grounds such as a wooden gazebo, football goals, tyres, playground markings and seating have been added.

She said: “The improvements are hugely popular with pupils, particularly the fixed and portable goals. The playing fields are regularly used before, during and after school, and at weekends.

”It’s really disappointing to think that our pupils and other local residents will no longer have access to this amazing space we are so lucky to have.”

Fiona also called attention to the fact that the open access playground facilities are used by the wider public, including 1st Forres Scouts.

She added: “Applegrove has a diverse range of needs and social deprivation. We’re the only school in Forres with an enhanced provision facility. Within the mainstream of our school, at least 25 per cent of pupils have a learner profile and strategy plans due to additional support needs.

“Access to outdoor space is particularly important.”

One aunty of a P3 pupil at Applegrove who did not wish to be named agreed that the school roll includes a number of children with disabilities who currently benefit from the green space marked for construction.

She said: “Losing part of the playground will be detrimental to their emotional and physical development.“

Isobel Petdas (7) is one of many pupils against the plans.

“I don’t want the new academy to be on our playground,” she said. “I like the trees and playing here a lot. I will feel sad if we lose this.”

Rocklan Brandt (11) also spoke out at the protest.

He said: “Playtime won’t be as good if we lose our football pitch. Pupils of all ages play on it at every breaktime and it gets used at the weekends.

“We also play tag, capture the flag, rounders, cricket and other games on the field.”

Schoolmate Lara Hepburn (11) explained that the field is regularly for school events such as sports day, PE and outdoor learning.

“It’s really crowded at lunchtimes,” she said. “Everyone goes onto the field.”

A number of nearby residents lent their support to the protest.

The administrator of Facebook group Forres New Academy Forum was one, who claimed to be “profoundly shocked that Moray Council is disregarding the impact the loss of the children’s playing fields will have on their wellbeing”.

She said: “Their attempt to appropriate the common good land will have many adverse consequences. There will be considerable disruption to children’s education as a result of the construction phase being in such close proximity to Applegrove, with the noise, dust and associated dangers.

“There is also the ever-present risk of flooding, which will be intensified by the new build on an established soakaway site. This will result in potential exposure to raw sewage and harmful pathogens such as E. coli.”

Finally, Roysvale Terrace resident, Ann Green, backed up her claims.

She said: “I remember years ago the council was advised not to build the current Academy next to the Mosset Burn because of flooding issues.

“A new path was built through Roysvale a few years back and the council hadn’t accounted for the drainage issues there.

“Issues this time also include pressure on the surrounding roads.”

Moray Council proposes to temporarily use part of the Roysvale for construction, which will last around 32 months before being restored to its original condition. Additionally, a 12-metre strip will be allocated for a new bus drop-off area, incorporating a shared footway and cycleway while retaining or replacing trees. New footpaths and drainage systems will be installed throughout the park.

Throughout construction, an area of Roysvale including the pitch will be available for use by the public and schools.

A local authority spokesperson confirmed that development of the new ‘5-18 campus’ will enable Applegrove to use the enhanced facilities within the new academy, adding that supervised activities will continue at Roysvale during the transition.

She added: “The campus will provide significant benefits to Applegrove. As the detailed design progresses, opportunities will be reviewed on the potential to develop the current outdoor facilities within Applegrove’s outdoor space.”

On the public vote that saw 54.7 participants choose the Lochyhill site over Roysvale, the spokesperson said: “The public engagement was not a vote; rather, it was seeking community views.

“The feasibility study recommending Applegrove/Roysvale Park as the preferred site was approved, reflecting careful consideration of community input and practical feasibility.”

The local authority aims to minimise disruption to the primary school and wider community during construction.

The spokesperson said: “A planning application will address design, layout, noise, and traffic assessments. This will evaluate the capacity and operation of the existing transport network, identifying necessary interventions to mitigate additional traffic generated by the development.”

Finally, Moray Council aims to address flooding issues in the Roysvale area via the new school project.

The spokesperson said: “Our thorough flood risk assessment indicates that while flooding does occur, we’re committed to implementing compensatory storage measures to ensure that there’s no increased risk to surrounding properties.

“Combined with other engineering approaches, the flooding issues in the Roysvale Park area will be significantly mitigated.”

The Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 requires councils to consult local communities prior to a decision on change of use of common good assets.

Forres residents are encouraged to take part in the consultation by sharing their thoughts before Tuesday, November 12.

A public information drop-in session will be held at Forres Academy on Monday, October 21, from 4-7pm.

For more information and to comment on the plans visit http://www.moray.gov.uk/moray_standard/page_157040.html