At Monday's meeting of Mearns Community Council, rector Ian Parkin reported that the recent meeting of the Academy Community Group had been attended by Director of Education Bruce Robertson and Head of Service Heather Hamilton.

"The meeting began to discuss and think about what will go into what we hope will be a new community facility as well as a new school.

"We are at a very early stage and there is a lack of detail at the moment. A stakeholder group will be drawn up to shape what should be encompassed in the new facility.

"The starting point is a like for like replacement, but we would like to see much more, including a swimming pool and a community building.

"There is the potential for members of the community to influence the plans and Heather Hamilton is taking steps to set up the stakeholder group."

In answer to a concern that the school might not be build big enough to allow for all the housebuilding that is going on in the area, Mr Parkin replied that they would be working to a significantly higher projected roll.

Councillor George Carr said there might also be a rezoning of the Mearns Academy catchment area.

"The community should have an input into the consultation process. We must be proactive as this is a once in two, three or four generation opportunity.

"We must not be put off by the current economic situation."

Member Jim Stuart said the site of the new school had not even been confirmed. If it was north of the existing school, they were indanger of decentralising all the facilities in Laurencekirk.

Mr Parkin predicted that the new stakeholder group might be set up in a month's time.

He stressed that everything had to be got right from the outset, as not all new-build schools have been well planned and that some have had to make alterations.

Mearns Academy recently won a Customer Service Excellence Award and has gained Green Flag Status.