PLANS for the future of Hermitage Primary School’s annexe site could become clearer soon after a review of the council’s learning estate strategy.
Questions were raised by Helensburgh Sports Trust on when Argyll and Bute Council could make its position clear on its vision for the site.
Councillors unanimously stated their opposition to any sale or development of the site at a meeting in March. The council’s position remains that no final decision has been made.
The discussion took place at a meeting of the council’s Helensburgh and Lomond area committee on Tuesday, September 8.
Katherine Wright, of the sports trust, speaking on behalf of Sarah Hawkins, said: “At the June 2026 area committee meeting, the trust was pleased to learn that the annexe is being considered among the learning estate strategy.
“What timelines are in place for that, because it has not officially been brought up with the school, and we are concerned that it is not progressing?
“We would like some assurance on what has been done already, and that we will receive updates.”
Clerk Stuart McLean said he had passed the question to the council’s head of commercial services Ross McLaughlin, and read out the response.
He said: “The council has a learning estate strategy which was adopted in 2021. Work is underway to review this strategy and develop a strategy bill with input from teachers and learning staff.
“This has been shared with the education review board. It will be up for review in September and will be published through the usual channels.”
Ms Wright then said: “The trust was told that neither education nor Hermitage Primary School had identified an operational requirement for sports or outdoor provision.
“This is not the opinion of the parent body at the school, who plan to ensure outdoor provision. Would the head of commercial services be willing to meet with representatives of the trust and parent council to understand the possibilities for the site?”
Mr McLean, again reading a response from Mr McLaughlin, said: “Officers welcome the interest and confirm that the council has invested in the school playground in recent months, including the removal of unsafe equipment and surfacing works.
“Officers are aware of interest in the site and are committed to continue to engage following completion of the reviews which were discussed at the previous area committee meeting.”
At the area committee’s meeting in March, Councillor Fiona Howard (Labour, Helensburgh Central) moved a motion including a point asking that the committee: “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.”
