COUNCILLORS have united in agreement that a Helensburgh school’s former annexe site should be used for a bigger outdoor play area.
Part of the Hermitage Primary School outdoor area has been considered for housing, while other parts have been closed off on health and safety grounds.
Lizzie Donaldson, of the school’s parents for active learning group, asked for clarity on the council’s plans and operations on the matter.
Several councillors then stated their opinion that an extended play area would be a superior use of the old annexe site.
The discussion took place at a meeting of Argyll and Bute Council’s Helensburgh and Lomond area committee on Tuesday, September 9.
Ms Donaldson said: “Why does the council think this is land that they can give away when it was gifted as part of the estate for the purposes of education? It is within the boundary wall and is in the playground.
“We would also like to know from the council what guidelines they use for declaring the size of playgrounds.
“The school roll is 375 pupils and a lot of the playground has been condemned as illegal for health and safety purposes. We are concerned about the reduction in size.”
Clerk Stuart McLean said that he had passed the question to colleagues in education and commercial services, and read out their response.
He said: “Officers have kept in contact with the group and are in the early stages of looking at the old annexe site for possible housing.
“There are a number of issues to address before determining the suitability, and other uses such as an outdoor play area may come back for consideration.
“Hermitage Primary School has a number of options available, including their own existing outdoor space, the sports pitches at Parklands School, and Hermitage Park.”
Councillor Maurice Corry (Conservative, Lomond North) said: “It is something worth considering. I have been approached by many people and there are concerns about the closeness of the housing to the school, should it go ahead.
“It does concern me, and I think we could make good use of it as a play area. The health and wellbeing of our children is extremely important and we need to look wider than housing.
“I make no bones about it, I would support the creation of an extended playground area and we have to be very conscious of the security. The more we can keep an eye on our young children the better within the confines of the school.”
Councillor Fiona Howard (Labour, Helensburgh Central) said: “I agree with everything Councillor Corry has said, and we can maybe work together on a joint approach to officers.”
Councillor Ian MacQuire (Independent, Helensburgh Central) added: “I agree, but another way to look at it is to look at other primary schools in the area, and what size of playground they have.
“I went to St Joseph’s and it has a bigger play area, and John Logie Baird and Colgrain do too. They are bigger than what the main primary school in the area has for pupils, so we may need to look at it again.”
Councillors Graham Hardie (Liberal Democrat, Helensburgh Central) and Gemma Penfold (Conservative, Helensburgh and Lomond South) then added their agreement.
