COMPLETION of the schools and early years centre at the £59 million Maybole Community Campus is on track for the start of the new school year in August, South Ayrshire Council says.

According to a report put before councillors this year, the campus building is now wind- and water-tight and the internal spaces are taking shape.

The first of the two all-weather sports pitches, the sports pavilion and the police office have been completed and are in use, and some new car parking spaces have been added for residents to use in the evenings.

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The council says the new campus swimming pool, which will be available to the public, will open at the end of September, with the current swimming pool remaining in use until then.

It was originally hoped that the campus - including a new Carrick Academy, a new St Cuthbert's Primary and a new non-denominational primary school bringing together the current Cairn and Gardenrose primaries - would be ready by the spring of this year.

Councillor Martin Kilbride, buildings, housing and environment portfolio holder for South Ayrshire Council, said: “This is the council’s biggest ever investment in a community campus, and it will make a huge difference to children and young people as well as the wider community.

"The first of the two all-weather pitches is proving popular for a range of sports. We’re committed to delivering the second pitch although given the rising costs, it will now only be used for football.

"The project team have done a great job to keep costs down in light of rising inflation.”

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Councillor Stephen Ferry, the authority's education portfolio holder, added said: “With the new campus opening in a little over four months’ time, the pressure is on, so I am delighted the project is on schedule.

"Replacing all the schools in the town with a new campus is a massive undertaking and everyone working on the build should be proud of the progress so far. I am looking forward to August and seeing the finished campus.”

Once the new campus - which will have room for 1,370 pupils - is complete, the old Carrick Academy building will be demolished, and the remainder of the car parking and landscaping will be completed by June 2024.