Parents put PM in the picture on school cuts

Published on Friday 31 August 2007 01:53

THE battle to save 22 closure-threatened schools in Edinburgh has reached Gordon Brown, the Prime Minister.

Furious parents have inundated the Downing Street website in protest against the proposals.

Hundreds of individuals have already signed petitions to save schools such as Wester Hailes Education Centre, Drummond Community High and Dalmeny Primary - which face the axe as Edinburgh City Council struggles to deal with falling rolls.

More than 800 had also backed e-petitions on the Prime Minister's website by last night, with more adding their names every hour.

This latest move came as it emerged that the local authority does not have the power to close more than one-quarter of the schools on its proposed hitlist.

Of the 22 schools under threat, two can only be closed with the blessing of the Catholic church, and four are operating at more than 80 per cent capacity. That forces the council to refer a final decision to Fiona Hyslop, the education secretary at Holyrood.

Meanwhile, members of the city's Liberal Democrat and SNP coalition were booed by parents last night during a heated public meeting at Abbeyhill Primary.

The school is currently operating at close to full capacity.

Charles Dundas, a Liberal Democrat councillor, admitted that "if there is any justice in the world" his colleagues at the City Chambers would agree to save the school.

David Beckett, a SNP councillor and vice-convener of children and families, stressed that the plans were subject to an ongoing consultation period.

He said: "There has been nothing definitely decided. We want to hear your views."

But one Abbeyhill father, Paul Kelbie, told him: "I have voted for the SNP for 20 years but if this was closer to the year 2011, I would be voting against you."

• Pupils at Bonnington Primary in Leith were due to "strike" outside the school's gates this morning in protest against the closure plans.

Parents from other affected schools also vowed to join the youngsters at the gates in support.