Plans for £50m school campus and swimming pool approved

A new £50m school campus and swimming pool has been approved after concerns over a pedestrian access were resolved.

Construction will start next year on the mega Carrick Academy campus in Maybole, which will be the council’s biggest new school to date.

An 18-metre wind turbine, leisure centre and new pitches are just some of the planned features.

However, eight objections were lodged with South Ayrshire Council including from Maybole Community Council.

Residents were worried about a proposal to allow people to enter the school grounds on foot from the town’s Whitefaulds Avenue.

Fears were raised that the pedestrian access would lead to parents parking in McAdam Way, which has no pavement, causing congestion and dangers to pedestrians.

After the issues were discussed at a council meeting, the pedestrian link from Whitefaulds Avenue to the school was removed from the table.

It was agreed an existing path between Whitefaulds Avenue and Kirkoswald Road will be upgraded in width.

Councillors approved the super school, which will be called the Maybole Community Campus, at the Regulatory Panel planning meeting last week.

Chair councillor Brian Connolly said: “This is a game-changer for Maybole along with the A77 bypass and regeneration of the High Street.

“This will make a huge difference to the town and bring people to the town. We are delighted.”

He said an additional planning condition was added to sort out the concerns over pedestrian entry to the school.

The independent Maybole councillor said there were no objections to the school project as a whole.

As well as the new academy, Cairn and Gardenrose primaries will merge at the campus and St Cuthbert’s will also have a new base on the site.

There will also be a nursery and its roof could double as a playground according to designs.

Councillor William Grant, children and young people portfolio holder, said: “Planning approval makes the Maybole Community Campus a reality, and I am delighted that this takes us one step forward to making Maybole a better place to live.

“This project is a fine example of our continued commitment to learning and helping to close the attainment gap.”

The school will have room for 1370 children.

By local democracy reporter Sarah Hilley