The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Education chief faces parents over planned closure of school
Sheena Devlin denies fate of Balhousie Primary is set in stone
Education chiefs have denied the closure of a historic Perth primary school is a “done deal”.
Crumbling Balhousie Primary is in line for the chop, with all pupils likely to be moved to a £14 million new-build at North Muirton.
Councillors voted to press ahead with the controversial plan in January, despite a last-ditch plea by SNP members.
The council has set the ball rolling on a consultation exercise, to give parents and other members of the community the chance to have a say on the closure plan.
Only a handful of residents attended North Muirton Community Campus last night for the first of two public meetings.
Sheena Devlin, executive director of education and children’s services, told parents all feedback from the meetings would be recorded and included in a report to councillors ahead of a final decision.
“Because of the condition of both schools, we decided something needed to be done to improve education facilities in this area of Perth,” she said.
“We did look at building a replacement in the grounds of the primary school, but this was just not possible. We could not acquire the land that would be needed.”
The meeting heard that out of the 69 pupils in the Balhousie catchment zone, 48 live within a mile of North Muirton.
Parents claimed some pupils would face lengthy walking routes to and from classes. One mum said she would not allow her children to walk to North Muirton because of heavy traffic.
There were also concerns that the infrastructure was not in place to allow for extra school buses.
One resident suggested the plan was a “fait accompli” and the council was simply going through the motions, having already made up its mind.
“That’s why there is hardly anyone here tonight,” she said.
Ms Devlin denied the decision was set in stone.
“There is a due process to follow and we’re in the middle of that,” she said.
If approved, the school will close on July 31 2022.
The local authority aims to have the new North Muirton building ready for use after the summer break that year.
The council’s lifelong learning committee heard the Edwardian-era Balhousie Primary was in desperate need of improvements which could cost up to £5.7m.
There is a due process to follow and we’re in the middle of that. SHEENA DEVLIN