Decision time over plans to build new £16m school

COUNCILLORS will this week be asked to approve plans for a new school in the north of Glasgow.

Following a public consultation, education director Maureen McKenna has issued a report to be discussed by councillors.

It asks Thursday’s executive committee to approve plans to build a new primary – costing £16million – on a site between Queen Margaret Drive and Gairbraid Avenue.

It also asks for changes to the catchment areas for Cadder, Caldercuilt, Kelvindale, Parkview, Highpark, Dunard, Saracen, Oakgrove and Royston primary schools.

A consultation for a new non-denominational primary school for the north of the city and the creation of a new catchment area was launched on October 27.

Among the various consultation events were two formal consultation meetings: 20 people attended at Maryhill Burgh Hall while just one person attended at Benview Campus.

Plans were also discussed with parent groups, pupil groups, area partnerships and staff groups while consultation events were held and documents handed out.

Of 40 responses to the proposal, 26 were for it, nine were against and five said they were unclear.

One of the 26 positive responses included questionnaires completed by 300 people that had been handed out by the responder.

Education Scotland raised six issues in response to the proposal, including roll pressure at Saracen Primary, travel routes, transport arrangements, traffic management, why this site was chosen and how the council will manage the roll at the new school.

Some parents had asked for a denominational school to be built, however, the council says there is not sufficient pressure on the local faith schools to warrant a new school being needed.

The statutory consultation period ended on December 18 2016.

Now, plans show the site with have a 3G all-weather pitch and community facilities that will be available to the public in the evenings and at weekends.

Last year, Glasgow City Council acknowledged there would be a shortage of spaces in Maryhill schools if rolls continued to rise.

Projections show that around 800 more children will be living in the north west of the city by 2020 and they could not be accommodated in existing schools.

In 2009 parents protested over the closure of primary schools in the area and held sit-ins at St Gregory’s and Wyndford primary schools.

Liz Cameron, Executive Member for Children, Young People & Lifelong Learning, said: “It’s wonderful to be witnessing the resurgence and regeneration of Maryhill and as a result the need for additional primary school places.

“We are delighted to be able to put forward our proposal to build a new primary school with a nursery and community sports facilities that will be a great asset to the local community at the top of Queen Margaret Drive following the extensive consultation and engagement process.”