Inverclyde Councillors have agreed to demolish the former Highholm Primary School in Port Glasgow ahead of opening the site for regeneration.

The school officially closed in August 2008 when pupils and staff were relocated to the new £9m Newark Primary. The building has been used for many years to provide accommodation for support staff within Education and other Council services.

Councillor Stephen McCabe, Convener Policy and Resources said: "It has simply become unrealistic cost wise to keep the building open. We have to make decisions on delivering best value for Council Tax payers."

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A recent condition survey of Highholm shows that the condition of the building is poor and the rate it is deteriorating has increased substantially. There are serious building issues, parts of it are not wind and watertight and the heating and electrical systems are out of date.

The Council's Policy and Resources Committee decided that future use of the cleared site should be considered as part of the regeneration strategy that the Council and Riverside Inverclyde are jointly developing for Port Glasgow Town Centre.

A number of properties are being considered as alternative accommodation for Council staff.

(GK/JM)