A consultation regarding plans to construct a new £15m primary school campus in Balloch is to open later this week, West Dunbartonshire Council has confirmed.

The proposals involve Haldane, Jamestown and St Kessog's Primary Schools, and would see the Haldane and Jamestown schools amalgamating into a new campus on the existing St Kessog's site. A new St Kessog's Primary School would also be built and be co-located with the other two facilities; while there would also be the construction of a new Early Education and Child Care Centre and a new Additional Support Needs Centre on the campus.

Almost 500 pupils would be accommodated on the new campus, which the local authority has said it will help to finance.

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Terry Lanagan, Director of Educational Services, commented: "I would encourage all parents and carers to take part in the consultation and give us their feedback on the proposal before the end of the consultation period. The Council is committed to providing fit for purpose school accommodation which is vital to the successful delivery of the Curriculum for Excellence.

"These schools are a priority for us as they are all classed as C rated, which means they are showing major defects and not operating adequately. They are also under occupied and unsuitable for delivering modern education. The proposal includes a new Additional Support Needs Centre which will offer support to up to 36 children with a range of needs."

The consultation will be available to view from Friday (12 September) until Friday 7 November. A public meeting for the proposals will also be held on Wednesday 22 October in the Assembly Hall, Vale of Leven Academy, from 7pm.

The consultation will be available to view via the Council's website. Comments can also be made in writing to Terry Lanagan, Executive Director of Educational Services at the Council's offices on Garshake Road, Dumbarton, while residents can use the Council's Facebook and Twitter page to submit their comments via the online form.

(JP/CD)