Aristocrat steps in to try to save remote primary

The Earl of Mansfield made an impassioned plea to council bosses to save Logiealmond School – and hinted he could help revive the area by investing in the local leisure industry.

Alexander Murray, based at Scone Palace, was among those who spoke out against proposals to close down the remote primary, which is about 75% under capacity.

His letter to Perth and Kinross Council is among hundreds of consultation documents released ahead of next week’s decision.

Mr Murray revealed he is planning to help reinvigorate the area by ploughing money into “traditional rural activities”.

He wrote: “This is an appeal on behalf of the Logiealmond area from someone who loves it.

“As one of the local landowners, it has long been my ambition to try to revive Logiealmond. Lack of money has prevented that, but there is now the possibility that funds will become available.”

Mr Murray said: “My hope was to revive activities that were stopped as impractical, outdated or uneconomic, but which can now be reexamined with a view to revival. As well as reviving traditional rural activities, I had hoped to introduce new activities, especially in the leisure industry.”

He added that his hopes for the area depended on recruiting people to work in Logiealmond, adding: “This would be so much more difficult, perhaps impossible, if the school closed.

“Families with young children would have to face long, perhaps difficult journeys to school. Logiealmond would become unattractive to potential workers.”

Mr Murray warned closing the school could turn Logiealmond into a “dormitory” for Perth and an “extended retirement village”.

No one at Scone Palace was available to elaborate on Mr Murray’s plans.

There are no proposals for Logiealmond as part of the review, following last year’s consultation.

Responses to the online questionnaire show 59% of people at Logiealmond backed a catchment area review to boost pupil numbers.

However, a third of respondents from Methven supported the option of mothballing Logiealmond.

Kim Cessford. Picture: The Earl of Mansfield has made a plea to save Logiealmond Primary School, saying he wants to invest in the area but it could be difficult if the school shuts.