Tartaglia backs bid to rethink primary’s closure

THE Catholic Church has called for a council to overturn a controversial decision to close a primary school on the outskirts of Glasgow.

Archbishop of Glasgow Philip Tartaglia wrote to East Dunbartonshire Council over the move to shut St Joseph’s Primary School in Milngavie.

Although the decision was taken six months ago, the SNP group on the council have put forward a motion urging a rethink.

The Archbishop said: “I wish to remind the council the Archdiocese of Glasgow opposed this proposal at the time of the formal consultation.

“In particular, the Archdiocese strongly supported the continuation of Catholic education in the community of Milngavie.

“For these reasons I strongly urge the council to reconsider the proposal.”

Paula Speirs, a spokeswoman for the St Joseph’s p a r e nt council, said campaigners were “delighted”at the intervention.

She added: “This motion from the SNP reflects the fact there is still deep unhappiness with the original decision.”

The SNP motion calls on the council to agree a suspension on work to close St Joseph’s and merge it with St Andrews Primary, Bearsden.

Earlier this year, the Scottish Government called in the decision giving hope to parents, but ministers then ruled the local authority had followed the correct procedures in deciding to merge the school with St Andrew’s.

St Joseph’s is Milngavie’s only Catholic primary and the Catholic Church has previously described the plan as a “serious deterioration” in denominational provision. In February, campaigners called for the school to be given to the community to run.