Petition urges better location for Mull high school

Councillors in Argyll and Bute have decided to build a new high school in Tobermory, Mull. The plan includes a £43 million campus near the current school. However, many parents, especially from the southern part of the island, are unhappy with this choice. They want a more central location to help students avoid long commutes. A petition has been started to ask the council to reconsider its decision. So far, it has gathered nearly 700 signatures. Supporters of the petition argue that the current decision hurts children's rights to a family life. Currently, students from the south travel to Oban for schooling and often stay in hostels during the week. Campaigners suggest that building the school in a place like Craignure would be better. They believe it would make school access easier for all students. The council has said that splitting the school across two sites would cost an extra £12 million. They worry that any delays could risk losing funding promised by the Scottish government. Rob Claxton-Ingham, who started the petition, claims some information given to councillors was misleading. He believes the project could share development costs among various infrastructure needs. Parent Chermaine Laurie, who runs a campsite, fears the decision could lead families to leave the Ross of Mull peninsula. She mentioned that many families are considering moving to avoid the current situation. Some island residents believe the community could have come together to help cover the additional costs of a split site. They see this as an opportunity for everyone on Mull to unite. The council has pointed out that the current school is in poor condition and needs costly repairs. They are eager to move forward with the campus plan before building costs increase further.