West Lothian council faces paying an extra £1m a year for the next 30 years to cover the costs of the rebuild of St Kentigern’s Academy.

That’s the cost of borrowing £15m on top of £20m to deliver a new school for Blackburn .

This week council Leader Lawrence Fitzpatrick repeated the council’s plea to the Education Secretary to help cover part of the £35m bill for the rebuild.

The Scottish Government said Westminster’s Labour Government had failed “to invest properly” in public services.

In a letter to the SNP’s education minister, Jenny Gilruth, Councillor Fitzpatrick said: “I was disappointed and dismayed by your response that the Scottish Government has not recognised our desperate request.

“As you have stated, it is for local authorities to manage and maintain their schools, ho

See Full Page