Education bosses recommend closure of ageing Perth school

Education chiefs have recommended the closure of an ageing Perth school.

It follows a three-month consultation on the future of Balhousie Primary.

Perth and Kinross Council is considering shutting the building and moving pupils 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 results of the consultation exercise have now been published, before a final decision later this month. It shows only one parent attended two public meetings to debate the school’s future. A dozen other members of the public took part in the talks held in April and May.

Of 556 consultees who were invited to respond to the council’s proposals, only 53 online responses were received.

Of those, 43 disagreed with the plan.

They raised concerns about travel and safety, noting children could face a longer walk to school.

A report by Sheena Devlin, executive director of education and children’s services, states: “There may be an economic impact on families, if parents choose to take public transport or the car instead of walking.

“However, the majority of pupils are likely to take less than 20 minutes to get to school by walking and all will be within the statutory walking distance.”

The council says the plan will offer a “modern, fit for purpose, fully accessible school” which has the potential to be a “true asset to the local communities”.

The new building is expected to open in August 2022.

Conservative councillor Caroline Shiers, lifelong learning committee convener, said: “I want to be very clear that the final decision has not yet been taken.

“The publication of the report allows parents and other interested people time to read and consider all of the responses before a report is submitted to the committee on October 31.”