SNP Council ignores Garnock opinion and chooses “worst” site for school

Councillor John Bell attacked the “disgraceful decision” of SNP Councillors to defy the majority local opinion in the Garnock Valley, and the opinion of the Council’s own consultants, on the site of the proposed new Garnock Campus.

At a recent Council meeting on the preferred site for the Campus, it became clear that the ruling SNP group is determined to site the Campus at Longbar, Beith despite sites in this area being previously rejected following extensive consultation with parents and pupils. Consultants commissioned by the Council had recommended 2 sites, off Largs Road and off Stoneyholm Road, as providing the best opportunity. The consultants also judged that the Longbar site was the worst of all the options available.

Councillor John Bell said

“The SNP’s decision to ignore the views of Garnock Valley voters on this matter is wrong-headed and illogical.

"Choosing Longbar as the site would be a disaster for parents and pupils in Kilbirnie and Beith as well as Kilbirnie town centre shops and businesses. The Longbar site is isolated and too far from the main housing areas and will mean an increased reliance on cars and buses to get kids to school. It will also mean that pupils from Beith will have a long and exposed walk, in all weathers, to the SNP’s preferred site. The SNP seem more eager to save money by cutting free school transport for Beith pupils than they do in choosing the best site for the Campus.”