Latest news with #MullCampusWorkingGroup
BBC News
5 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Mull islanders raise £50,000 for school legal challenge
Residents on the Isle of Mull have raised £50,000 to fund a judicial review over the local council's decision on where to build a new and Bute Council decided earlier this year to build the new £43m school campus close to the current high school in parents wanted a more central location so that pupils in the south of the island would no longer have to travel by ferry to Oban for schooling and stay in hostels during the order for the legal challenge to proceed, campaigners needed to raise £50,000 in one month, but they managed to do it in a week. A spokesperson for the Mull Campus Working Group said: "We had a month to get here, but thanks to the huge generosity of all our backers we did it in just a week."That in itself should send a loud message to the council - this community is not lying down, and we have the capacity and energy for the fight."A judicial review is a type of legal case where a judge reviews the lawfulness of a decision or action made by a public authority.A spokesperson for Argyll and Bute Council previously said they had been made aware of the proceedings. The location of the island's only high school has long been a source of division on living in the north go to the school in Tobermory, but the commute is more than 90 minutes for those living in the south, and most travel to Oban on the mainland, staying in hostels during the was secured in 2023 to build a "like-for-like" replacement school on the Isle of Mull to replace the depilated Tobermory High School, which also houses a primary and nursery school.A number of sites where the new school could be built were identified across the argued for a split option, with a new secondary school to be built in a more central location such as Craignure, while keeping a primary school in the council said splitting the campus would cost the authority an extra £12m, and that any further delay could jeopardise promised Scottish government funding, This option would leave the island's most populated town, Tobermory, without a primary councillors voted to go ahead with building the new school in Tobermory, near to the existing launched a petition and held protests against the decision, and the issue has been debated at Holyrood.
The Herald Scotland
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Council facing court date after Mull campaigners raise £50k
A spokesperson for the Mull Campus Working Group (MCWG) previously said that the council's approach has been 'shoddy and biased' and had ignored the wishes of a majority of islanders, which they say has left them with 'no option' but to take the matter to court. They argue that that the council has behaved irrationally, unfairly, and outwith the bounds of its own regulations, and that the decision to base the new school in Tobermory should therefore be reversed. In order to meet the expected initial costs of the legal action, the group opened a crowdfunder with the goal of raising £50,000 by 8 July 2025. However, that target has now been exceeded after just seven days, with £50,025 pledged at the time of writing. Argyll and Bute Council has faced significant criticism over its decision to locate the proposed new school in Tobermory, the main town on the island. The current school, also in Tobermory, incorporates a nursery, primary and secondary school, but surveys have shown that a majority supported moving the high school component to a central location in order to end the practice of some children being sent to board in Oban from the age of eleven. Throughout the process, and despite seeking the support of families living in areas not served by the current high school, the council has insisted that only a single-site approach is viable, meaning that boarding in Oban would still be necessary for children from the south of the island. Officials ultimately recommended the new school be built on a site on the southern edge Tobermory, and this advice was accepted by councillors at a special sitting of the council in Lochgilphead. The move to build a new school was originally referred to as the 'Mull Campus Project', but recent communication from council officials has stated that 'the Tobermory Campus project is focussed on creating an improved and enhanced learning environment for the pupils within the current Tobermory High School catchment area". The situation has been described as an example of a 'wider democratic deficit' in Scotland, and islanders have told The Herald that the council has left them feeling 'silenced and belittled". READ MORE The planned legal action argues that the council's decision to limit itself to consideration of a single site, and the consequent narrowing of any consultation work, was 'inherently unfair'. It also alleges that the council acted 'irrationally' in failing to properly consider the offer of free land at a central location, and that councillors were misinformed about the offer itself. Finally, the group is challenging the failure to hold a formal vote on the proposals which they say contravenes the council's constitution. The campaigners say that they were 'warned not to challenge' the council's decision to locate the new school in Tobermory, and that delays to the programme could 'jeopardise Scottish Government funding,' which they described as being told to accept the plans as they are or risk getting 'nothing at all'. Although the new school building is being delivered by Argyll and Bute Council, the authority plans to use a Scottish Government funding scheme known as the Learning Estate Investment Programme (LEIP). Education secretary Jenny Gilruth has already confirmed that delays to the project will not jeopardise financial support. However, the government has faced criticism over it's approach to the ongoing dispute, including after it was discovered that First Minister John Swinney deleted a campaigners' email without ever opening it. Commenting from the Isle of Mull, local parent and former Community Council vice-chair Tracy Mayo told The Herald: 'Legal action can be daunting. It is always a last resort, something people are usually forced to do, and the expense itself can be prohibitive for so many. 'No so, it seems, for a small and unique island community and their friends who, against the odds, have raised over £50,000 in just one week. It is incredible. 'This is about our children and their future and a community's vision of it. We have more work to do and a stretch target to reach. 'We want to work with our council and government to rewrite a historic wrong and to ensure all Mull children and their families are treated the same. 'I urge them both to work with us.' The Scottish Government and Argyll and Bute Council have been approached for comment.
The Herald Scotland
12-06-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Islanders raise thousands for court action against council
A spokesperson for the group said that the council's approach has been 'shoddy and biased' and had ignored the wishes of a majority of islanders, which they say has left them with 'no option' but to take the matter to court. They argue that that the council has behaved irrationally, unfairly, and outwith the bounds of its own regulations, and that the decision to base the new school in Tobermory should therefore be reversed. In order to meet the expected costs of the legal action, the Mull Campus Working Group opened a crowdfunder with the aim of raising £50,000 by 8 July 2025. More than half of this target was achieved in the first three days of the fundraising effort, with subsequent donations meaning that the group is more than 60 percent of the way to reaching their goal. Argyll and Bute Council has faced significant criticism over its decision to locate the proposed new school in Tobermory, the main town on the island. The current school, also in Tobermory, incorporates a nursery, primary and secondary school, but surveys have shown that a majority supported moving the high school component to a central location in order to end the practice of some children being sent to board in Oban from the age of eleven. Throughout the process, and despite seeking the support of families living in areas not served by the current high school, the council has insisted that only a single-site approach is viable, meaning that boarding in Oban would still be necessary for children from the south of the island. Officials ultimately recommended the new school be built on a site on the southern edge Tobermory, and this advice was accepted by councillors at a special sitting of the council in Lochgilphead. READ MORE The move to build a new school was originally referred to as the 'Mull Campus Project', but recent communication from council officials has stated that 'the Tobermory Campus project is focussed on creating an improved and enhanced learning environment for the pupils within the current Tobermory High School catchment area". The situation has been described as an example of a 'wider democratic deficit' in Scotland, and islanders have told The Herald that the council has left them feeling 'silenced and belittled". Local campaigner Tracy Mayo, who was previously vice-convener the island's Community Council, told The Herald that the group had 'smashed through the half-way mark', which she described as a 'phenomenal testament to the community backing this action.' She added: 'We are one step closing to taking the council to court and securing education on Mull for all. 'The amazing Mull Community, and the generosity of our friends, knows no bounds. It has moved us to tears. 'The faster we reach our target of £50,000, the stronger the message to the council. The broader the variety of donors, the stronger our mandate.'
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Campaigners launch legal challenge over new Mull school
Campaigners on the Isle of Mull have launched a legal challenge over the local authority's decision on where to build a new school. Argyll and Bute Council decided earlier this year to build the new £43m school campus close to the current high school in Tobermory. Many parents wanted a more central location so that pupils in the south of the island would no longer have to travel by ferry to Oban for schooling and stay in hostels during the week. Campaigners say they felt they had "no choice" and have now hired a layer to take the case to a judicial review at the Court of Session. A judicial review is a type of legal case where a judge reviews the lawfulness of a decision or action made by a public authority. A spokesperson for Argyll and Bute council said they had been made aware of the proceedings. The island split over where to build a new high school Petition calls for rethink over Mull school decision Tracy Mayo, chairwoman of the Mull Campus Working Group, told BBC Scotland News: "This is about all our children - it affects the whole of Mull and its future sustainability and its unique island way of life. "When we first learnt the terms of the bid for funding in August 2024, we immediately raised our concerns the offer didn't make sense - it seemed irrational. "How we define our community appears to differ from that of our council. We have been highlighting flaws in the process for many years as have other communities. "Effective partnership working fosters trust and mutual trust. We have stated all the way through this we want to work with our council but not like this. "It has taken a huge amount of work to get this far. Volunteers have lost huge swathe of family time, our families have been very patient and supportive and so has the amazing community of Mull." The location of the island's only high school has long been a source of division on Mull. Pupils living in the north go to the school in Tobermory, but the commute is more than 90 minutes for those living in the south, and most travel to Oban on the mainland, staying in hostels during the week. Funding was secured in 2023 to build a "like for like" replacement school on the Isle of Mull to replace the depilated Tobermory High School, which also houses a primary and nursery school. A number of sites where the new school could be built were identified across the island. Campaigners argued for a split option, with a new secondary school to be built in a more central location such as Craignure, while keeping a primary school in Tobermory. But the council said splitting the campus would cost the authority an extra £12m, and that any further delay could jeopardise promised Scottish government funding. Ultimately councillors voted to go ahead with building the new school in the Island's main town of Tobermory, near to the existing school. Campaigners launched a petition and held protests against the decision, and the issue has been debated at Holyrood. Petition calls for rethink over Mull school decision The island split over where to build a new high school
BBC News
09-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Campaigners launch legal challenge over new Mull school
Campaigners on the Isle of Mull have launched a legal challenge over the local authority's decision on where to build a new and Bute Council decided earlier this year to build a new £43m school campus close to the current high school in parents wanted a more central location so that pupils in the south of the island would no longer have to travel by ferry to Oban for schooling and stay in hostels during the say they felt they had "no choice" and have now hired a layer to take the case to a judicial review at the Court of Session. A judicial review is a type of legal case where a judge reviews the lawfulness of a decision or action made by a public and Bute council have been approached for comment. Tracy Mayo, chairwoman of the Mull Campus Working Group, told BBC Scotland News: "This is about all our children - it affects the whole of Mull and its future sustainability and its unique island way of life."When we first learnt the terms of the bid for funding in August 2024, we immediately raised our concerns the offer didn't make sense - it seemed irrational."How we define our community appears to differ from that of our council. We have been highlighting flaws in the process for many years as have other communities."Effective partnership working fosters trust and mutual trust. We have stated all the way through this we want to work with our council but not like this."It has taken a huge amount of work to get this far. Volunteers have lost huge swathe of family time, our families have been very patient and supportive and so has the amazing community of Mull." Mull Campus project The location of the island's only high school has long been a source of division on living in the north go to the school in Tobermory, but the commute is more than 90 minutes for those living in the south, and most travel to Oban on the mainland, staying in hostels during the was secured in 2023 to build a new secondary school on the Isle of Mull to replace the depilated Tobermory High School.A number of sites where the new school could be built were identified across the island. Campaigners argued for a new secondary school to be built in a more central location such as Craignure, while keeping a primary school in the council said splitting the campus would cost the authority an extra £12m, and that any further delay could jeopardise promised Scottish government councillors voted to go ahead with building the new school in the Island's main town of Tobermory, near to the existing launched a petition and held protests against the decision, and the issue has been debated at Holyrood.
