Dave Thompson MSP

Highlands and Islands MSP Dave Thompson has called on Highland Council to stick to its agreed renovation programme for Lochaber High School in Fort William and move straight on to Phase 3 of the plan when work on Phase 2 is completed at the end of this year.

Mr Thompson was speaking after meeting head teacher Jim Sutherland and Moira Tregaskis, chair of the school's Parent Council on Friday.

Mr Thompson, who has recently been installed as the SNP candidate for the Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch seat at next May's Scottish Parliament election, was also given a tour of the building by Mr Sutherland on which he saw some areas of the building that had already been modernised as well as others which are still in need of refurbishment.

"I saw both the new and the old at the school and the difference between the two was stark," Mr Thompson said. "To be honest I was shocked by the state of some of the bits that have still to be modernised under Phase 3. Those parts of the school really can't be conducive to learning and the contrast between the two areas was like night and day.

"That is why I have no hesitation in giving my full support to school staff and parents in their campaign to ensure work on the school carries on until the job is done."

The SNP politician had been invited to visit by Mrs Tregaskis, who explained: "I wrote to invite everyone I could think of this summer because I felt strongly that councillors were reneging on their promise to fund the whole project.

"They had decided to take the money for Phase 3 from their Capital Programme and I was worried that work could grind to a halt before the job was finished."

Mrs Tregaskis was pleased that her letter to Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education had resulted in a reply giving full support and a promise that officials would contact Highland Council to encourage the organisation to stick to its original plan.

However she was less impressed by the lack of response from other politicians from the area with only Dave Thompson taking the trouble to support the call.

She added: "The Scottish Government has said our school buildings should be up to scratch and fit for the 21st century. By failing to carry on with this, Highland Council wouldn't be living up to that."

Morrison Construction, the contractor for Phase 2, is expected to finish work before the end of the year and parents and staff are keen to see work on Phase 3 begin as soon after this as possible.

"Stopping work with the job just over half done simply doesn't make sense," Mr Thompson said. "Of course the best plan will be for the council to stick to its plan and move straight ahead with Phase 3.

"The last thing we want is for momentum on such an important project to be lost. I will do whatever I can to facilitate this campaign and help them to push their case with Highland Council."