Parents not giving up on places fight despite blow
Council decides to stick with plans for catchment updates
PARENTS battling to stop catchment changes to Glasgow’s South Side have vowed to fight on despite a new blow.
A Glasgow City Council scrutiny committee reviewed a decision taken last month to alter catchment areas for Merrylee, Croftfoot, Battlefield, Mount Florida Primary Schools and King’s Park, Hillpark Secondary Schools and Shawlands Academy.
The move came after a successful campaign by parents to have the decision called in.
But yesterday councillors voted eight to five against stopping the proposal.
Mum-of-two Louise Hutchinson has been one of the parents leading the campaign.
She said: “We are really disheartened by this decision and the dishonesty that has been involved throughout the whole process.
“They could have chosen today to take on board our compromise, which would have cut numbers at Merrylee Primary while also being much fairer.
“We feel that Glasgow City Council is not interesting in acting in the best interests of our children or our community.”
Kintore Road, which is currently part of the shared Merrylee and Battlefield catchment, was originally proposed to become only Merrylee.
Now it is proposed to become part of the Battlefield catchment instead.
David Meikle was one of five city councillors to back the parents in fighting for a call-in.
Mr Meikle said: “I’m disappointed the committee voted eight to five to implement the Executive Committee decision to remove the Kintore area from the Merrylee Primary catchment.
“I thought members would have taken on board the concerns raised by the councillors who signed the call-in – as well as the parents – and referred the matter back for further consultation.
“Unfortunately all eight Labour councillors ignored this plea. I hope now the Education Department continues to listen to the Kintore area parents’ concerns about this decision and how it will detrimentally affect them and their children. “A solution should be found.” Parents say catchment changes will affect hundreds of homes in the Kintore area, near to Merrylee and Battlefield.
Councillors met yesterday at Glasgow City Chambers to debate the proposals and parents gave a presentation to put their views forward.
Dad Stephen Culbertson added: “This morning’s result is a bit gutting but only to be expected.
“We had thought our talks with Stephen Curran and the education director this week had been very productive but they chose not to take on board our suggestions.
“We are still consulting our lawyer and will be looking to see what steps we can take next.
“We are certainly not finished today.”
Councillor Stephen Curran, Executive Member for Education and Young People said: “We needed a final decision to be taken today so that the parents and families know which school their children will be starting in August.
“Along with council officers, I will continue to engage with parents, pupils, staff and Councillors on the delivery of the best possible education at all the schools involved in this consultation.”