Dates set for school meetings

Renfrewshire Council is urging parents and communities to make their views known on their proposed multi-million pound investment in schools during a series of public meetings.

The council recently announced it is planning to invest £30m in primary schools and pre-5 centres.

But some schools may have to share campuses under the plans.

Four public meetings have been arranged during October in Erskine, Johnstone and Paisley to "discuss the challenges and opportunities" facing the council in prioritising that investment.

The council has already published an audit of education facilities which looked at the condition of buildings and how accommodation matches up with the number of pupils.

Opposition councillors have warned the process will lead to school closures.

But Councillor Jacqueline Henry, Education Convener at the Labour-run council said: "To bring forward a £30m investment in schools in very difficult economic conditions shows that Renfrewshire Council is continuing to prioritise education.

"We are starting with two basic aims. We want to deliver investment which will give pupils the best start in life and support families and communities.

"At the same time, we have to make sure that investment is educationally, environmentally and economically sustainable.

"The council has been quite open that there have to be changes. It simply isn't affordable to maintain or improve all the school buildings we have just now due to their condition.

"We believe those changes can be achieved without school closures - possibly by schools sharing campuses or facilities. Nothing has been decided yet."

The four consultation meeting on the council's school investment proposals will be held at: Park Mains High, Erskine on Tuesday, October 8, Castlehead High, Paisley on Wednesday, October 9, Johnstone High School on Tuesday, October 22 and Paisley Grammar School on Wednesday, October 23.

All the meetings take place between 7pm and 9pm.

ewan.fergus@eveningtimes.co.uk