Dumfries and Dalbeattie school projects secure funds

The Dumfries project would see an overhaul of the four secondaries in the town

A funding package has been agreed to help drive forward major school projects in southern Scotland.

The £700,000 will be used for survey and site investigation works for the Dumfries Learning Town programme and the Dalbeattie Learning Campus.

Jeff Leaver, who chairs the education committee, said the funding could keep the momentum going on the projects.

He said the "time for talk" was over and the expenditure showed a commitment to taking the work forward.

Both schemes would ultimately involve multi-million pound expenditure.

The Dumfries plan would see new schools built at Maxwelltown High and Dumfries High and the refurbishment of St Joseph's College and Dumfries Academy.

It would also involve the creation of a "learning hub" offering specialist higher academic and vocational studies.

The Dalbeattie project would bring secondary, primary and nursery provision together on one site in the town.