East Ayrshire Council is seeking views on proposals to create a new-build campus that will house Patna Primary, Nursery School and Supported Learning Centre, as well as St Xavier Primary, on a site adjacent to the present Patna schools.

The local community will also be asked to give its views on proposals to replace the Community Library, football pavilion and community centre which would all become part of the new campus, with a prospective completion date of 2011. The anticipated cost of the project is around £9m.

As well as purpose-built nursery and supported learning facilities, the new campus will provide networking for information technology, be environmentally friendly and include features that support the health promoting school and healthy lifestyle priorities.

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Facilities in the school - such as the games hall and performance areas - will be available for the local community to use.

Councillor Jim Roberts, Spokesperson for Lifelong Learning, said: "The Council has a commitment to make sure that we deliver a modern curriculum in school buildings that are fit for purpose.

"In recent years we have had great success with new campus projects, for example at St Joseph's, Kilmarnock, and Mauchline, which have offered opportunities to integrate school life with its local community. We also hope the new campus will give pupils from both schools the chance to develop new friendships."

New-build on a separate site helps to cut down on the amount of disruption to pupils' education and will reduce the amount of unused space and revenue costs, thus freeing resources to be deployed elsewhere in East Ayrshire.

The consultation period will last for 28 days during which time details of the proposal will be available on East Ayrshire Council's website. Copies of the document will be available to parents of children affected schools and a public meeting will be held at Patna Primary School on Tuesday 9 June 2009 at 7.00pm.

Those wishing to respond to the consultation can write to the Executive Director of Educational and Social Services, East Ayrshire Council, Council Headquarters, London Road, Kilmarnock KA3 7BU or email [email protected]

(GK/JM)