Labour demands answers on Campus land costs Site at North Lochshore could have been acquired free

The Labour Group is questioning the cost of purchasing the land at the Longbar for the new Garnock Campus after it was confirmed North Lochshore could have been acquired for free.
After the Scottish Government re-instated planning permission for the site at North Logshore, a site which the council could have had at no cost for the proposed Garnock Valley Campus, the Labour Group on North Ayrshire Council has demanded to know the costs of buying and preparing the land at Longbar which is the current chosen site for the Campus.
Garnock Valley Councillor and Labour’s Education spokesman Cllr John Bell said; 
“We believe that a large amount has been spent on the Longbar site before any design work has been started. It makes no sense in light of the fact that the land at North Lochshore could have been had for free.”
“Given that the Council is currently cutting vital services to our constituents, it is a scandal that the Nationalists are prepared to waste such a huge amount on a site which is not nearly as suitable nor as popular with parents and pupils of the Garnock Valley and which would have saved a large amount of much needed cash for other vital services.” 
Cllr Alex Gallagher, Vice Chair of the Scrutiny Committee, said: 
“Previous attempts to address this matter through Scrutiny were stymied by SNP manoeuvring to ensure the matter never got to the Scrutiny Committee."
“The question to the portfolio holder is yet another attempt to force the SNP to shed some light on their murky dealings in this matter."