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Gregory's Girl school Abronhill High to close in 2014 | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Abronhill High - the secondary school immortalised in Bill Forsyth's film Gregory's Girl - is to close. | |
North Lanarkshire Council has approved plans to close the school at the end of the 2014 academic term. | |
Pupils will transfer to Cumbernauld High, which will be replaced itself by a new school campus. | Pupils will transfer to Cumbernauld High, which will be replaced itself by a new school campus. |
The decision - which was taken in the face of widespread local opposition - aims to address the falling school roll and realise annual savings of £1.3m. | |
It is possible, however, that Scottish ministers may decide to call in the closure plans for review due to the level of controversy in the local community. | |
The decision to close Abronhill was taken on Wednesday by the authority's learning and leisure services committee and later ratified by the full council. | |
'Empty spaces' | 'Empty spaces' |
Convener Cllr Jim Logue said: "The fundamental reasons for making these proposals have not altered, namely - the schools are hugely under-occupied. | Convener Cllr Jim Logue said: "The fundamental reasons for making these proposals have not altered, namely - the schools are hugely under-occupied. |
"Abronhill and Cumbernauld High Schools alone are sitting with a combined surplus of around 950 empty places. | "Abronhill and Cumbernauld High Schools alone are sitting with a combined surplus of around 950 empty places. |
"We need to make savings to allow a new school to be built." | "We need to make savings to allow a new school to be built." |
Cllr Logue said the decision paved the way for a "new school and community facility to be built" that would be "fit for the modern curriculum". | Cllr Logue said the decision paved the way for a "new school and community facility to be built" that would be "fit for the modern curriculum". |
Under the original proposal, Abronhill would have closed this year, with pupils transferring to Cumbernauld in August. | Under the original proposal, Abronhill would have closed this year, with pupils transferring to Cumbernauld in August. |
Following a consultation, which widely opposed the closure of Abronhill, the closure has been put back to 2014. | Following a consultation, which widely opposed the closure of Abronhill, the closure has been put back to 2014. |
Cllr Logue added: "Of course, we never take decisions like this lightly, and I would like to commend and thank everyone who participated in the consultation. | Cllr Logue added: "Of course, we never take decisions like this lightly, and I would like to commend and thank everyone who participated in the consultation. |
"We've listened to all the concerns raised and that's why we've given an extra year before the rationalisation will be implemented." | "We've listened to all the concerns raised and that's why we've given an extra year before the rationalisation will be implemented." |
North Lanarkshire Council said that it would be investing £70m in "two state-of-the-art secondary schools will be built in Cumbernauld" - the replacement Cumbernauld High and the new Greenfaulds High School campus. | North Lanarkshire Council said that it would be investing £70m in "two state-of-the-art secondary schools will be built in Cumbernauld" - the replacement Cumbernauld High and the new Greenfaulds High School campus. |
'Dark Day' | 'Dark Day' |
Scott Campbell, a spokesman for the Save Abronhill High School campaign, described the decision as "a dark day". | Scott Campbell, a spokesman for the Save Abronhill High School campaign, described the decision as "a dark day". |
"We are very anger that the councillors, who voted for the closure, didn't support the unprecedented response of the community's rejection of the proposals, in the council's consultation," he said. | "We are very anger that the councillors, who voted for the closure, didn't support the unprecedented response of the community's rejection of the proposals, in the council's consultation," he said. |
"We have previously warned that we are the community, the majority, the voters and, ultimately, their pay masters. | "We have previously warned that we are the community, the majority, the voters and, ultimately, their pay masters. |
"This decision will not be forgotten - it is a dark day for local democracy, Abronhill and the individual councillors who favoured Abronhill High's closure." | "This decision will not be forgotten - it is a dark day for local democracy, Abronhill and the individual councillors who favoured Abronhill High's closure." |
Jamie Hepburn, SNP MSP for Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, branded the decision to close Abronhill as "an absolute disgrace". | Jamie Hepburn, SNP MSP for Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, branded the decision to close Abronhill as "an absolute disgrace". |
"North Lanarkshire Council have once again put aside the wishes of the community in order to pursue their own agenda," he said. | "North Lanarkshire Council have once again put aside the wishes of the community in order to pursue their own agenda," he said. |
"They have let the people of Cumbernauld down, the very people they were elected to represent." | "They have let the people of Cumbernauld down, the very people they were elected to represent." |
Many of the exterior scenes for Gregory's Girl were filmed outside Abronhill High. | Many of the exterior scenes for Gregory's Girl were filmed outside Abronhill High. |
The much-loved film starred John Gordon Sinclair as Gregory, Dee Hepburn as Dorothy and Clare Grogan as Susan. | The much-loved film starred John Gordon Sinclair as Gregory, Dee Hepburn as Dorothy and Clare Grogan as Susan. |