The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Parental backlash over Balhousie school closure plan
consultation: Not one parent backed the proposals
Education chiefs are facing a backlash over plans to shut down one of Perth’s oldest surviving schools.
The Edwardian era Balhousie Primary has been targeted for closure as part of a cash-saving review.
Perth and Kinross Council want to transfer pupils to a £16 million newbuild school at North Muirton.
In a report which will go before the Lifelong Learning Committee next week, officers said closing Balhousie was the “only reasonable option”.
They said it would cost an extra £4.4m to bring Balhousie up to standard.
SNP MP Pete Wishart, who held a public meeting on the education estates review, has spoken out against the plan.
“The proposal to close Balhousie is completely unacceptable and parents have already expressed their opinions to the local authority as part of the school estate review,” he said.
“What was clear from the consultation with parents was that not one parent backed the option to close the school.
“Perth and Kinross Council must prove that this listening exercise was not a waste of parents’ time and that they intend to listen to parents’ views.”
He added: “It is now incumbent on councillors to block these plans and to stand with parents to ensure that the school remains open.”
Councillor John Rebbeck added: “The SNP group are opposed to the disproportionate and inequitable potential closure of Balhousie Primary School.”
Mr Rebbeck, who is backed by fellow SNP councillors Eric Drysdale and Andrew Parrot, said: “We’ve been through the report and we cannot see any justifiable reason for this closure.”
Perthshire North MSP John Swinney said he was “deeply concerned” about the proposal.
“The school is much valued by the local community, by pupils and by parents. I will be engaging closely with the school community about this proposal as it is considered by the council,” he said.
In an online survey, no one voted for the closure option.
One parent wrote: “I believe that closing down Balhousie Primary School would be detrimental to the local area, with pupils from Muirton having to travel extra distance to school.”
Councillors will be asked to approve a further consultation on the closure option.
Lifelong learning convener Caroline Shiers said: “There are also many challenges requiring to be addressed including the need to spend wisely, securing the best value for money.”