Blairingone Primary closure plan is taken off the table

Councillors have postponed making a decision on closure threatened Blairingone Primary.

The lifelong learning committee was asked to rule on a recommendation to shut the school and move pupils to nearby Fossoway Primary.

Perth and Kinross Council officers said the number of pupils attending Blairingone was so low – four at the last census – that it was unsustainable.

Committee convener Caroline Shiers said that the report on Blairingone, due to be discussed at yesterday afternoon’s meeting, had been withdrawn. It followed talks between local councillors who suggested the situation could change once the council’s revised Local Development Plan (LDP2) was in place.

Independent Kinross-shire councillor Mike Barnacle said: “It is stated (by officers) that it is not a reasonable option to develop a sustainable school roll in the next two to three years but I suggest this is short sighted.

“We have just gone through a consultation on the LDP2 in which there was significant support for development proposals in Blairingone from the community and myself.”

He said there was already interest from developers in the area. “In these circumstances, I think it would be prudent to keep the school open and also widen the catchment review as I believe I suggested during the consultation period,” he added.

A revised report will be brought back to a future meeting of the lifelong learning committee.

Meanwhile, councillors agreed to a review of the catchment area at Abernyte Primary, to look at incorporating the Inchture Primary area north of the A90.

The committee further approved a consultation on the closing mothballed Greenloaning School.

The council will hold more talks over the planned closure of Perth’s Balhousie Primary. Public meetings will be held at North Inch Community Campus from 7pm on April 24 and May 1.