Councillor’s catchment ire

A councillor has called for change after being left “frustrated” by the current catchment areas for Strathaven schools.

Avondale Tory councillor Graeme Campbell wants a revamp of the school assignment which has seen kids from new developments in the west of the town unable to begin the year at nearby Kirklandpark Primary.

Instead, they are being sent to Wester Overton Primary.

Proposals to realign the catchment area will go before a meeting of the executive committee today and Campbell wants the issue progressed.

“I’ve been trying to have the Strathaven primary school catchment area changed for nearly two years,” he said.

“It finally comes in front of the executive committee and I hope all on the committee will support the paper, which proposes to change the Kirklandpark catchment area to include the new Robertson, Stuart Milne and CALA Homes developments in the west of Strathaven.

“I met senior council education officers with Councillor Bill Holman to executive passed nearly two years ago, and mandatory public highlighted this problem consultation concluded well and presented a potential in advance of August 2019.” solution. South Lanarkshire’s

“While I left that meeting education operations confident the catchment area manager Des Dickson said: would change well in advance “The council will seek the of the August 2018 intake — views of parents/carers and sure the council would and other stakeholders accept all placing requests to on the proposals, with the Kirklandpark from Strathaven planned timetable for the West — you can imagine my consultation, if approved, frustration when constituents beginning in June. started calling me in response “A report on the outcome to receiving their placing of the consultation would request refusal letters from then be reported to the the council. executive committee around

“I hope to see the paper November/December 2018.”