THE Leader of North Ayrshire Council this week said that the planned campus for Ardrossan will be like nothing else in Scotland.

Joe Cullinane, Labour councillor for Kilwinning spoke about the proposals, the consultation process, the importance of the public and how decisions will be made.

Cllr Cullinane explained what the new campus could be like for the people of the Three Towns and how it could be more than a school, he said: “One of the things that we need to be clear about from the outset is what stage we’re at with this.

“With any changes to schools of this nature there is a statutory consultation period, we’re not even at that yet.

“We are at a pre-engagement period because we’ve got an idea and what we’re saying that we want people’s views.

“The other side of the campus that maybe hasn’t came through yet is that we have campuses in Largs and Garnock which have early years, primary and secondary school on offer – at Ardrossan we are already in discussions with Ayrshire College and we are having discussions with universities about having a complete learner journey which is offering early years, primary, secondary, HE and FE opportunities as well so it is a whole kind of lifelong learning campus.”

The campus, if given the green light, will be built in 2024/25 and feature a library, leisure facilities and possibly a theatre and cinema.

The NAC leader added: “You have to be a bit more innovative and creative and that development with the campus, the learner journey, the leisure facilities, the library, the marine research facility and also some of the stuff that is in it in terms of culture and arts, so they’re talking about a theatre that can be turned into a cinema as part of the development as well – so there are a whole host of things that are a part of this campus which are innovative, which nobody else in the country will have.

“I don’t think you would have another campus which you can say is like this one that is on the table for what is part of it, the facilities round about it and the location obviously next to the sea and access to the beach.”

Joe spoke about the proposals for the closure of Auchenharvie Leisure Centre’s swimming pool which have left the community divided and how it would cost at least £2million to upgrade the current facilities, he said: “This is engagement and pre-consultation and the reason that Harvies or the swimming pool is part of the proposal at Ardrossan is because the Three Towns does have Harvies but this year it is going to be 46 years old.

“We have a condition report from Harvies from a few years back and we’re waiting on the updated one but we know the mechanics and engineering systems are already past their lifespan.

“We know that the pool tub and the tiles haven’t really been replaced in 46 years either and if you look at Harvies building it doesn’t really meet insulation standards.

“The last report we got said that it was going to cost around about £2million in the medium term but you’d still left with a 46 year old swimming pool.

“You wouldn’t be having a leisure facility like at the Portal or like you’ve got in the Garnock Campus, you would be left with the remains of the 46 year old facility with £2million of upgrades.”

The consultation and engagement with the community about the development is due to start soon and Cllr Cullinane made it clear he would listen to everyone.

He concluded: “We need to balance the whole view across the whole of the community, that does mean Saltcoats and Stevenston being part of the discussion as well as Ardrossan.

“Ardrossan at the core of it is about improving the educational facilities for the young people, it is about giving those young people the very best educational facility that they can have and the idea that is on the table just now we would absolutely deliver that but if people come up and say they don’t want Harvies to move then we will listen to them.”