Renfrewshire Council accepts responsibility for Dargavel Primary chaos
An investigation described management as "incompetent"
Renfrewshire Council has faced up to a damning report into the blunders which led to Dargavel Primary School being built far too small.
Councillors discussed the findings of an independent review into the botched development.
Calculations for the building in Arrochar Drive, Bishopton, has left the local authority facing a bill of up to £75 million for a second primary school and an extension for Park Mains High School.
It was part of a massive new housing scheme on the former Bishopton explosives factory site.
"Sad and sorry day"
Provost Lorraine Cameron said: “A whole community has been created in Bishopton and it’s the size of a small town.
“This should have been a huge success story for Renfrewshire. Instead, it is tainted by what some call ‘mismanagement on a seismic scale’.
“It is a sad and sorry day for Renfrewshire Council.”
Initial sums projected the roll wouldn’t exceed roughly 430 pupils, but analysis predicted pupil numbers could peak at 1,131 by 2033.
An investigation carried out by former local government chief executive David Bowles examined agreements between the council and landowner BAE Systems and found demand for school places was “substantially underestimated”.
The review said senior education management at the time were “incompetent” and “not sufficiently engaged” in the project.
Fears over capacity were raised in November 2022.
No senior officers, who were involved in the Dargavel development, are at the council now.
Opposition reaction
Iain McMillan, the leader of the opposition Labour group, added: “When you see some of the mistakes that were made, they are absolutely unbelievable.
“Incompetence is not strong enough a word.”
The SNP council leader Iain Nicholson admitted responsibility for the failures.
He said: "We apologise for the very understandable distress that this has caused to our local communities.
"And particularly to those who raised concerns over many years.
"Such concerns have been proven to be entirely justified."
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