Comhairle nan Eilean Siar PRESS RELEASE 3 April 2000 For Use: Immediately

Former Councillor D.H.M. Maciver leads members of Stornoway Primary School Board on the new public footpath leading from Jamieson Drive via Barony Square Lane to Columbia Place around the boundary of the School.

The new path was put in to provide an alternative route to ease the difficulties arising from unauthorised access by members of the public to the school grounds. The work was funded by Ward Initiative money from the ward member at that time, D.H.M. Maciver, and Government School Security Funding made available after the Cullen Report.

The project was tendered and awarded to local contractor Woody's Gardens, who completed the work last January.

School Board Chair Mrs A Dickie said:

"We are very pleased that the Council has provided this footpath so that there is now no need for the public to go through the school playground. The School Board has been concerned about the problem of making the playground secure for some years now and we are happy that this solution has been found."

The establishment of the public footpath means a more secure environment at the Primary School. It is proposed to securely lock all access gates to the school grounds outwith school hours. Evening lets of the school hall will be supervised by the Janitor.

Ends

Issued by Nigel Scott
Communications Officer