The new Devenish College site along the Tempo Road RMG191
IF YOU have recently driven out the Tempo Road you will have noticed work has finally begun on the Devenish College site. And it is set to continue until work is finished in November 2018.
The school which is expected to cost in the region of £23million has been a long time coming for the staff, parents and pupils who were first promised a new school ten years ago.
Currently Deane Public Works are carrying out work such as culverting a river at the bottom of the site field and the removal of the drumlin on the Tempo Road. This work was meant to begin in March but was delayed due to an issue with planning and protecting wildlife habitats on the site, particularly fish in the river which runs through the site.
Any issues have now been rectified and work on this phase is to be completed by January 15, 2016.
Principal Simon Mowbray said, “From my point of view we are delighted that work has begun and will continue. – For us as staff coming back in August and for the pupils coming back in September, it was lovely that we were able to give them the good news that work had begun. The news created a visible excitement and buzz about the school.”
He further added, “From the meetings I have had there is a real desire to ensure that this building work will happen. It is lovely for our year 8’s as when the school is complete they will be entering into their GCSE courses in a completely new facility, which will be the most advanced in the whole of Northern Ireland.” The Fermanagh Herald understands a meeting was recently held to discuss contracts for a design consultant. They will work with the school to ensure specific needs are met.
The work to the school comes nearly a year after Minister John O’Dowd confirmed last December that money had been approved for the new build.
In statement the Education Authority said, “The Education Authority is progressing the new build school for Devenish College following Department of Education approval on 5 December 2014 to progress the scheme to appoint Consultants to work with Devenish College to design a school which will provide a modern place of learning and teaching for the future pupils of Devenish College.
“The current timeline for the College would see a completed new build school in November 2018.”
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