Fife Council “remains convinced” Pitcorthie Primary School in Dunfermline should close following the publication of a new consultation report.
Plans to close the school were announced last April, while proposals to close five other schools, including Wellwood Primary were approved by councillors at a committee meeting last month.
On Friday the local authority published the long awaited findings of the public consultation into the proposed closure and recommended the closure of the building next year.
The statement reads: “Fife Council remains convinced that, on basis of the principles outlined in the School Estate Review, the closure of Pitcorthie Primary School represents the most viable way to provide sustainable primary education in this part of Dunfermline.
“The concerns of consultees and their commitment to the school are fully recognised. However, the surplus number of places in the area indicates the need to close one school and for reasons outlined above it is the view of Fife Council that Pitcorthie represents the most practical and sustainable option.
“It is recommended therefore that approval be given to the proposal to close Pitcorthie Primary School in August 2015.”
The report also calls for the rezoning of the catchment areas of Lynburn Primary School, Touch Primary School and Commercial Primary School; the closure of Pitcorthie Primary School nursery and the establishment of additional nursery class provision at Lynburn Primary School, Beanstalk Nursery, St Margaret’s Nursery or Touch Nursery depending upon address postcodes.
It is proposed that primary behaviour support service provision, based within Lynburn Primary will be transferred to the nearby Camdean Primary.
The Save Pitcorthy Primary School Facebook page was inundated with comments from angry parents.
Shirley MacDonald wrote: “They’re taking an incredibly short-sighted approach.
“They will need more schools, not fewer, given the amount of building that’s either ongoing or in planning right now.”
Dunfermline MSP Cara Hilton and Dunfermline and West Fife MP Thomas Docherty issued a joint statement describing the news as “devastating”.
“From the start, we have both expressed serious reservations about the decision to consider Pitcorthie’s future and the rationale behind its closure.
“We will continue to support the parents’ campaign to save the school as the proposal is now considered by Fife Council.
“Pitcorthie is an excellent school in an area where there is a need for school places now and in the coming years.
“The case to close Pitcorthie has not been made and we urge Fife Council to reconsider this proposal.”