School saved after road route changes

Campaigners have won a 12-year battle to save a Scottish community and school for people with special needs after ministers decided to route a bypass around rather than through it.

The Camphill community and Camphill Rudolph Steiner School in Aberdeen, parts of which opened in 1939, had been threatened with closure by Scottish executive plans to build the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Road through it.

But transport minister Tavish Scott last week announced the road would instead take a different, more costly route.

Dr Stefan Geider, Camphill medical officer and chair of the Save Camphill campaign, said the issue had been stressful for staff and the 200 residents and pupils.

“After 12 years of objections, staff are thankful they can focus on their work with vulnerable children and adults, rather than fighting for their existence,” he said.