Robert Brown urges Council Leader to cancel Maryhill school closures

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 18th Jun 2009

Glasgow MSP Robert Brown has today called on Glasgow City Council Leader Steven Purcell to cancel the primary school closure programme in the Maryhill area and in particular to reverse its decision to close Wyndford, St. Gregory's and St. Agnes' Primary Schools. Mr. Brown's call came after the Education Secretary announced that there would be additional cash for school rebuilding after 2011.

Glasgow City Council decided to close the schools last month after a controversial public consultation period and a long battle with local parents.

At the time, the council cited a lack of finance and dwindling pupil numbers as its main reason for merging 20 local nursery and primary schools. The closure decision led to furious local protests by parents and children threatened with the loss of local schools at the heart of their communities.

Councillor Purcell promised at that time to look again at the situation, should a new funding stream become available.

Robert Brown said:

"The Scottish Government's long overdue announcement of a future school building programme - even if it delayed even further to 2011 - nevertheless puts the spotlight back on Glasgow City Council and on Steven Purcell.

I said at the time that there was no reason to make a hasty decision on closing these schools. There are some doubts about the detail of the SNP Government's announcement on this - and there is no doubt they have held back the schools programme for around 3 years. But the Council should now call their bluff and keep their promise to look again at the situation if there was the possibility of new funding.

The whole basis for the council to close the schools has been taken away. It is time for Steven Purcell to meet Education Secretary Fiona Hyslop and come up with plans for the future of Wyndford, St. Gregory's and St. Agnes'. Meantime the closure decision should be stopped. Any further political ping-ponging is a betrayal of local people."

ends