Parents rally over closure plans

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Parents at closure-threatened primary schools in North Lanarkshire have vowed to fight the proposals.

Gartsherrie Primary in Coatbridge Belvidere in Bellshill, St Francis of Assisi, Cumbernauld, and St Matthews in Wishaw could shut under council plans.

Falling rolls and the poor state of some of the accommodation have been cited as the reasons for closure.

However, parents have been organising petitions and holding protests in a bid to keep the schools open.

Proposals to shut the four primaries were drawn up after a review of the schools estate earlier this year.

Reports presented to councillors last month showed they were operating at significantly under capacity.

The whole closure proposal is a farce. The data they have based it on is nine years out of date Kay Rowatt Parent, Gartsherrie Primary

Ahead of a public meeting on Monday to discuss the closure proposal for Garsherrie Primary, more than 150 pupils and parents marched to the council's education headquarters in Coatbridge to hand in about 4,000 objection letters.

They waved placards with messages including "Dear Santa, Save our School."

Kay Rowatt, who's son Daniel is in P1 at the school, is part of the action group set up to fight the closure.

She said: "The whole closure proposal is a farce. The data they have based it on is nine years out of date.

"Our school currently has a 90% capacity. The council says our building is old but we think it is in good condition.

Pupils took part in a march to council headquarters in Coatbridge

"Our children are going to end up in overcrowded classrooms with poorer facilities, as the two schools pupils would be moved to have been told they will lose their libraries and computer suites to make room."

She added: "We are not going to give up. Everybody in this community is 100% behind us and determined to save Gartsherrie."

Among other parents angered by the closure plans is Anne-Marie Johnstone from Cumbernauld.

Her nine-year-old son Keirnan has cerebral palsy and was due to start at St Francis of Assisi Primary in August.

However, she has been in a dispute with the council over the support package put in place for his move to the mainstream school and now fears he will not get the chance to take up his place.

It is important to reduce empty places and make savings so the money can be spent on council needs and education prioritie Murdo Maciver North Lanarkshire Council

She said: "After a tribunal to agree on support for Keirnan the council has spent money adapting the school for him and that has just been wasted if it now closes.

"It is ridiculous to use tax-payer's cash like that.

"It is also very unfair on Keirnan. He has been in and out of hospital and now he faces this uncertainty."

Ms Johnstone added: "I have bought him a school uniform that he will probably never wear."

North Lanarkshire Council said it had spent about £1,000 adapting St Francis to meet Keirnan's needs and it stressed similar support measures would be available at alternative schools.

Ms Johnstone wanted support put in place for her son Keirnan

Murdo Maciver, head of educational resources, said: "In July 2009 the council approved a comprehensive analysis and strategic plan for the school estate.

"This looked at the condition, suitability and usage of all our school buildings to support the delivery of the highest quality education for our young people.

"The review found that North Lanarkshire as a whole has 8,000 surplus places. That means the council has to spend money to heat, light and maintain empty classrooms."

He added: "Given the large number of priorities that need to be funded and the pressure on the budget, it is important to reduce empty places and make savings so the money can be spent on council needs and education priorities."

A final decision on the school closures is expected to be taken early in the new year.