Preparations are under way for a re-assessment of all sites previously considered for the location of a replacement Ayr Grammar Primary School.

As well as having the work carried out by an external consultant, South Ayrshire Council is also set to invite the public to nominate practical suggestions for new sites which could also be investigated.

The move follows the professional recommendation to support the relocation of the school to a site on the Old Racecourse being rejected by the Council’s own Planning Committee.

Following the decision by the Committee, the Leader of South Ayrshire Council, Councillor Andy Hill met with parents of Ayr Grammar Primary School pupils to emphasise to them the Council’s commitment to building a new school to replace the existing one.

The meeting, attended by more than 100 parents, had been specially arranged by the Ayr Grammar Primary School Board.

At the time, Councillor Hill spoke of the disappointment shared by Councillor Alan Murray, the Council’s Convener of Lifelong Learning, and himself, at the Planning Committee’s decision.

He pointed out that it was a matter of record that the five Opposition members on the Planning Committee had all voted against the proposal.

And he said: “Any suggestion that the Council failed to explore alternative sites or identify a ‘plan B’ is totally wrong!

“The Consultation Paper that was issued to all parents and local objectors identified eight different sites and indicated that a thorough assessment of all potential sites had been carried out – regardless of whether they had originally been considered feasible.

“The result of this exercise was that the site at the Old Racecourse was considered to be the only credible site which would allow us to build a school that we could be proud of.”

Now Councillor Hill has revealed that new moves are being considered, to revisit all prospective sites … and to explore any potential others

July 2005