COUNCILLORS have unanimously agreed to request that Hermitage Primary School’s former annexe site not be put up for sale.
The piece of land at the Helensburgh school featured on a list of sites for disposal by Argyll and Bute Council after being deemed surplus to educational requirements.
Concerns have repeatedly been voiced by residents and councillors regarding its potential use for housing within the school grounds.
A report said it would be “premature” to dispose of the school estate assets until the council’s Helensburgh Strategic Development Framework and education estate strategy are complete.
It has now been unanimously agreed that Councillor Fiona Howard (Labour, Helensburgh Central), chair of the council’s Helensburgh and Lomond area committee, should ask that the land is not considered for sale or development.
It will also request council officers to make contact with Helensburgh Sports Trust about ways that the land could be used for sports or outdoor play.
The area committee met on Tuesday, March 10, where a report was presented to update councillors on the school estate.
After the report was presented, a motion put forward by Councillor Howard asked that the area committee “Notes the public and local councillor concerns regarding the status of the land located at the former primary school annexe at Hermitage Primary School, Helensburgh.
“Notes that officers from commercial services, education and development and economic growth agree that it is premature to dispose of or repurpose Helensburgh school assets at this time until the wider reviews flowing from the Strategic Development Framework and learning estate strategy are completed.
“Agrees that the chair (Councillor Howard) write to the chief executive (Pippa Milne) to request that the land is not considered for sale or development and that, in view of the potential for population expansion caused by the Ministry of Defence development plans and the impact of the Strategic Development Framework, no development is considered for that land unless for school expansion, outdoor learning or school sports development.
“Requests officers to engage with the Helensburgh Sports Trust about ways in which the land could be used for sports or outdoor play until such time as it becomes necessary for school expansion, outdoor learning or school sports development.”
The motion was seconded by Councillor Graham Hardie (Liberal Democrat, Helensburgh Central) and unanimously agreed by all nine councillors in attendance.
During public question time earlier in the meeting, Helensburgh Sports Trust chair Lizzie Donaldson said: “Despite cross-party councillor support at the area committee meeting in December regarding the annexe at Hermitage Primary staying off the disposal register, the budget was signed off.
“It seems the community interest, councillors’ opinion and potential local place plan was pointless, and the council only thought about what was best for it.
“Will the council confirm how they plan to continue to engage with our sports trust, having been in correspondence since October 2024?”
Clerk Stuart McLean said he had put the question to colleagues, particularly those in commercial services, and read out the response.
He said: “Councils are required to follow guidance outlined in the Disposal of Land by Local Authorities (Scotland) Regulations 2010.
“There is an imperative to obtain the best value, but that is not the sole consideration, particularly in this case.
“As noted within the report, in light of strategic planning ongoing in the Helensburgh area, it is considered any decisions on the future of Hermitage Primary School annexe, considered surplus to education, should be suspended until Helensburgh Strategic Development Framework and learning estate strategy are complete.”
