School facing the axe seeks merger lifeline

Published on Monday 1 September 2008 09:57

PARENTS fighting to save a city primary are hoping to get a stay of execution by opening up its doors to pupils from another school.

Campaigners at the under-threat Lismore Primary say that nearby St John's could temporarily merge with the Bingham school while it undergoes its long-awaited refurbishment.

St John's, in Portobello, is one of five city schools awaiting replacement or refurbishment under the "wave three" modernisation scheme, but the plans have been put on hold because there is no money to finance the projects.

One of the options for modernising St John's is to refurbish the existing building, situated beside Portobello High School, which would require pupils to be moved to another school while the work is carried out.

Lismore parents believe their building could offer St John's the perfect solution, while at the same time throwing a lifeline to their own school.

Julie Dickson, whose nine-year-old son William is in primary five, said the two schools would easily be able to work side-by-side.

She said: "It's a straight road from St John's to Lismore and it's not far. This could keep us open a bit longer and give us more time to build a stronger case.

"We would welcome the extra kids into the school and it would be great to see it buzzing again with that amount of children.

"We are not going to roll over and let our school close."

A public consultation is under way into the future of Lismore, Bonnington and Westburn primaries, which all face closure.

Lismore parents have already presented proposals to the council which involve selling off half their site to developers and building a new, smaller school on the other half of the land.

Maggie Paterson, chair of Lismore's parent council, said campaigners would use the St John's argument as part of their alternative proposals to the council.

She said: "We've had some meetings with councillors and the local community and we've had some great feedback and support for our proposals. There's no point in keeping a big school open with only a few children in it because it's just wasting money."

It is understood that Lismore has been considered unofficially as a possible base for St John's.

A council spokeswoman said: "The proposal to close Lismore Primary School will have to be looked at separately to any proposal for St John's. The consultation for Lismore is ongoing and we will, of course, listen to the views of all parents."