THE Provost of North Ayrshire has formally cut the first sod to get work on the new Garnock supercampus and leisure centre underway.

Assisted by future pupils of the new school, Provost Joan Sturgeon put the spade in the ground at an official ceremony on Monday watched by North Ayrshire Council councillors and officials, and representatives from the Scottish Futures Trust, Hub South West and building contractor Kier Construction.

The new £40million joint school, community and leisure campus will serve the Garnock Valley’s three main towns – Kilbirnie, Beith and Dalry – and bring together pupils who currently attend Garnock Academy, Glengarnock Primary School and Glengarnock Early Years Centre.

Running alongside this project is the £1million programme of works which has been developed to substantially improve local footpaths and cycle routes to benefit pupils.

The new state-of-the-art campus is due to be completed by December 2017 and will include a high quality six lane swimming pool and leisure facilities to replace Garnock Pool and a synthetic pitch suitable for rugby and football.

Speaking at Monday’s ceremony, Councillor Tony Gurney, Cabinet Member for Place, said: “I’m delighted that work is now underway.

“Our school estate in North Ayrshire is something we as a Council are incredibly proud of.

“The new campus will be another addition to our growing list of top-class schools, leisure and community facilities.” Councillor John Bruce, Cabinet Member for Education, Attainment and Achievement, said: “This is another important day for education in North Ayrshire.

“We have seen an improvement in attainment levels in recent years, while our positive destination rates for school leavers are at an all-time high.

“Having brilliant teachers and staff is clearly a massive part of any improvement in education results.

“But great facilities are also vital as they help create a real pride amongst the whole school community which lends itself to learning and attainment.” The location of the new complex has not met with the full support of local councillors with one claiming the development has had to be restricted because the site is ‘undermined and waterlogged’.

Labour Councillor for Kilbirnie and Beith John Bell said: “Everyone in the Garnock Valley knows that this school is in the wrong place.

“Nevertheless we have to ensure that it works as well as it can for those who will use it.

“North Ayrshire’s Labour Executive bidded for funding for a replacement Garnock Academy in 2010 and decided to build on a new site to minimise disruption to the existing school.

“Comprehensive consultation across the area showed a clear preference for sites close to the existing school which would maintain free school transport for pupils from Beith and Dalry and reasonably accessible for pedestrian traffic from Kilbirnie.

“However, following the local elections in 2012 the new SNP administration decided, on no logical grounds, to choose a remote and isolated site at Longbar despite massive local opposition.

“To cap it all, the campus has had to be cut back due to site being undermined and waterlogged.

“At the time it seemed that SNP members were more concerned with creating opportunities for house builders than the welfare of the young people from Beith and Kilbirnie who will have to travel to the area in all weathers.

“The Nationalists also planned to save money by not providing free school transport from Kilbirnie and Beith.

“But they have so far failed to ensure safe walking routes to the schools.”