Keep our schools open is SNP’s cry
Recommendation to close three primaries slated
Perth and Kinross Council’s SNP group has slammed the local authority’s proposal to recommend closing three Perthshire primary schools.
Logiealmond, Blairingone and the currently mothballed Greenloaning primary schools are all expected to be closed following a vote at Wednesday’s lifelong learning committee meeting.
John Rebbeck, the SNP’s education spokesperson at Perth and Kinross Council said: “In Perth and Kinross the Conservatives have now brought forward five local schools for closure in only 10 months in charge, an unprecedented agenda to pursue and not something they chose to share with the voters before the election last May.
“These planned closures are much to be regretted, the SNP are opposed to them and we will actively pursue alternatives to closure within the committee structure of the council.”
Strathtay councillor Grant Laing, whose ward contains Logiealmond primary, said: “It is disappointing that this Tory administration is proposing to close Logiealmond primary which is so vital a resource to this rural community.”
Kinross-shire councillor Richard Watters said: “Blairingone has already lost its pub, village hall and church. The school is the only remaining community building in the village and its demise would be detrimental to both the children at the school and community at large.
“PKC have a responsibility to protect these rural communities and they shouldn’t be seen as an easy target to meet a Tory-led austerity agenda.”
Strathallan elected member Tom Gray added: “Closing of Greenloaning school will be a hard pill to swallow by many Greenloaning householders. It must therefore be hoped that improvements to Braco school and Braco Village Hall will be sufficient to compensate for the community facility deficit by bringing both communities closer by encapsulating education and social needs through the proposal to improve those two remaining public facilities.”
Lifelong learning convener and Conservative councillor Caroline Shiers, said: “We have already taken forward a very broad and detailed local public pre-consultation regarding the school estate review where we have heard a wide range of views from local communities.
“The reports being considered at committee reflect that a ‘one size fits all’ approach would neither be practical or appropriate, so we have done our best to look at the individual circumstances in each case. The statutory consultations are the next stage of the process.
“I very much acknowledge that some of the proposals here will be less welcome than others, however we have to look practically at how we manage and maintain our school estate into the future and how we can continue developing innovative and creative options for delivering a high standard of education.”