Islanders protest at Mull campus consultation

The council’s Mull 2-18 Campus project is now at the site selection stage. Following a ‘call for sites’ appeal last summer, a list has been narrowed down to potentially viable sites, which include locations in Tobermory and central Mull.

 

Community engagement also took place in the autumn, asking what islanders thought were important factors in assessing potential sites, drawing 352 responses. 

 

The concept of a split site was raised by some in the community, seeking a new high school to be built in a central island location, plus a separate primary school and nursery in Tobermory. 

 

However, at a meeting on December 20, councillors agreed with council officers that a split site would not be affordable. The council agreed to continue the process in search of a single site, and is expected to meet again in February to consider options and make a final decision on a single preferred site.

 

The report added: "More detailed impact assessments on equality, island, economic, children’s rights and wellbeing and Fairer Scotland Duty are being carried out. 

 

"These are expected to conclude in January to allow a recommendation report to be finalised for consideration at the next meeting of the full council scheduled for February 2025."

 

Earlier this month the community was invited to participate in these impact assessments. An open community meeting was called on January 13 to hear local views.

 

Afterwards, a community response was sent to the council’s Mull Campus Team "detailing why we feel unable to complete impact assessments on the Mull Campus project in our current situation.

 

"We remain completely committed and supportive of the Mull Campus project and want to see it succeed. However we have a number of concerns. Our lack of response to your pro forma questions should not be construed as anything other than a protest at poor process.

 

"We feel we do not have enough information on the proposal to be able to answer questions on its impact. The biggest absence of information is the shortlist of sites still under consideration.

 

"The impacts of a location within Tobermory will differ from the impacts of a location just outside Tobermory. Similarly, the impacts will vary for locations such as Salen, Garmony, Craignure and Lochdon, all of which could be considered as central.

 

"There is also a huge concern about the timescale to complete these assessments. The timing of your request left only 12 working days to complete the pro forma issued.

 

"We are being asked to respond on behalf of the communities we represent. We cannot do this properly without the time and resources to properly consult with our communities.

 

"There are those who feel that a lack of transparency and information sharing in the process means our communities voice isn’t being heard and respected. 

 

"There is also a feeling that because the site selection was planned to conclude in December, the fact that these impact assessments are being done now, at the last minute, that our responses will have no impact, this is a tick-box exercise, and decisions will be made irrespective of our answers.

 

"For us to meaningfully engage in any impact assessments the bare minimum we need is the shortlisted sites. In addition, we are asking for more time to complete the assessments to be able to seek wider opinion and to give considered responses."

 

The letter was signed by Mull Community Council, Mull and Iona Community Trust, South West Mull & Iona Development, North West Mull Community Woodland Company, Tobermory Parent Councils (Primary & Secondary), and Salen Parent Councils (Gaelic & English), as well as Ulva, Bunessan, Dervaig and Lochdonhead Parent Councils.

 

A spokesperson fro Argyll and Bute Council said: “We are committed to providing information to the community when it is available and where appropriate. The site selection is not yet complete as we continue discussions with a number of landowners. At this stage, details remain commercially sensitive, so we are unable to share further information.

 

"The cost of building the campus is Argyll and Bute Council’s single biggest investment estimated at £43 million. To deliver a project of this scale and to meet Scottish Government expectations of opening the new campus by December 2027, we need to move at pace and within strict timescales. Failure to do this could risk the overall project.

 

"We would like to thank the community for their continued engagement and stress that the impact assessments are not the sole determining factor on selecting a preferred site. Councillors will consider all feedback and information including the site shortlist and a transport review when they meet in February. 

 

"We will continue to update the impact assessments throughout the business case process.”