A CAMPAIGNER has pledged to fight East Ayrshire's plan to build a new multi-million pound super school on the grounds of a popular playing field.

 

Local resident, Allan Gray, began the campaign last month in a bid to save Broomfield Playing Fields.

The campaign has received more than 1000 likes on its Facebook page and more than 800 signatures on its petition, which was handed in to East Ayrshire council at the end of last month.

The Knockroon Learning and Enterprise Campus would see a merger of Auckinleck and Cumnock Academies, Greenmill and Barshare Primary school, the relocation of Hillside School and the inclusion of early and supported learning centres.

Hundreds of local residents have expressed their outrage at the possible removal of Broomfields to make way for Knockroon, which they say is not necessary.

Gray, 32, said: "They have shown the cost of the super school as £63.5 million compared to the £56.2 million it would cost to refurbish the schools.

"The majority of schools, apart from one primary school, are still perfectly usable but need updated and refreshed.

"Surely if we refurbish those schools, we could have the high standards of education they are talking about whilst still protecting the schools and open spaces that are loved by everyone."

However, East Ayrshire council have said there would be limitations to the schools development if they were refurbished.

Alan Ward, Acting Head of Schools, said: "This location is the only site locally that fulfils all the necessary criteria for a new build.

"This includes factors such as the size of site and the scope it offers with facilities which can be enhanced for community use.

"We have, as a matter of course, looked at the possibility of refurbishing the existing schools however any potential benefit gained through refurbishment would be significantly reduced by the limitations imposed on the design and flexibility of desired changes by the original design.

"There is a range of educational benefits described in the proposal document, including the issue of a more diverse school community, shared expertise of staff in existing establishments and the opportunities to bring transformational change to the educational experiences of a large number of young people for future years in the Auchinleck and Cumnock areas."

Gray, whose ten-month-old daughter will attend Knockroon, and his supporters are worried the school will have a negative effect on the children and have pledged to keep up the fight.

He said: "I grew up here, I went to primary school here and I was at Cumnock Academy before going on to university.

"I've now come back and bought my home here to set up my life so that my kids go through a similar education system which I have faith in.

"The children who attend this school are going to be institutionalised, for want of a better word, because they are not going to experience life being in one campus from two to 18.

"A lot of families have come to us and hopefully it all means something in the end."