Numbers row as nurseries merger is approved

TWO Arbroath nurseries are to merge in an administrative move which has thrown the value of council consultations into the spotlight.

One councillor said the public thinks the authority does “what it wants to do” when it comes to consultation outcomes.

Forfar Conservative Ross Greig made his comments as the area’s education committee agreed the administrative closure of Hayshead and St Thomas nursery classes.

They sit under the same roof of Abbey View Campus in Arbroath, which the two local primary schools moved to in 2020.

Officials say the change to a single early learning set-up will improve resources and save money.

The plan was backed by the Scottish Government’s education directorate.

A public consultation on the proposal flopped.

No one turned up to a public meeting organised to discuss the closures.

And there were just 19 responses to an online survey.

But 11 of those “explicitly disagreed” with the proposal.

Mr Greig moved against the plan in light of the consultation feedback.

“We agreed to have a consultation and 52.6% did not agree with the proposals,” he said.

“There was a very small uptake but it hasn’t given any answers to why the uptake was so low.”

And he highlighted the wider question of council consultations.

“I’ve asked the public about what their opinions on council consultations are,” he added.

“Their response is that they don’t really matter because ‘the council won’t listen to what we say’ and will do what they want to do.”

SNP colleague Bill Duff added: “The number of people who took part in the survey is tiny.

“Talking about 52% when looking at less than 20 people is just a nonsense.”

The committee voted 11-6 to approve the plan.

It will now be submitted to Holyrood for final approval.