The ceremonial turf cutting at the site of the new 500 pupil Markethill Primary School took place this morning
Aberdeenshire Provost Hamish Vernal, cut the turf with pupils, Libby Sangster and Blair McRae, from Markethill Primary School. Turriff Councillors, Sandy Duncan, Alisan Norrie and Anne Robertson also attended.
Work has been carried out by David Smith Ltd over the last six weeks to level the site and get it ready for construction. The overhead power lines are due to be removed in the near future after which the construction work will step up a gear.
Commenting ahead of the turf cutting, George Morrison of Morrison Construction said
I guarantee that you will have this school by July next year.
The new school will comprise of 18 classrooms
- Sports facilities, including a 7-a-side all-weather pitch, similarly sized grass pitch and two sports courts
- A general purpose hall and two general purpose rooms
- A separate pupil dining room
- A music and performance space
- A library
- Additional needs provision
- Kitchen, offices and staff areas
- Nursery to accommodate 50 pupils, providing 100 places on a 50/50 basis
- Large meeting room, available for community use
During the speeches before the turf cutting Provost Vernal praised the design of the new school and the design of the sports facilities which allow the changing rooms to be accessed outside of school hours, making the sports pitches available to the community.
Provost Vernal said
It was a privilege to be at Markethill primary this morning to mark this important milestone. The community have been keen to see this project get underway for some time and I am pleased that they can now see demonstrable progress. I know pupils and parents alike are looking forward to the opening later next year.
