The construction of residential developments within Paisley should stop until a review of anticipated pupil numbers at local schools is complete the campaigners have stated.
Plans for housing in Thornly Park and Dykebar could result in nearly 800 family homes being constructed within South Paisley where demand for spots in St Andrew’s Academy as well as Todholm Primary School is already very high.
Campaigners now say that Section 75 agreements – which outline how developers will be able to pay for school expansions or changes – should be signed once the school’s projected roll for the area has been confirmed.
Renfrewshire Council confirmed earlier this week that it is reviewing the expected numbers for all of its 62 schools following the revelation that its calculation of the brand new Dargavel Primary was so catastrophically wrong.
It was the local authorities who underestimated the numbers of pupils by 50% during Dargavel which is currently accountable for the multi-million-dollar solution.
Council officials will not however make a commitment to delay education agreements that developers sign with council officials in Paisley till the study is finished.
Save Paisley’s Green Space, which is opposed to both development proposals, says the council shouldn’t allow to repeat the same mistakes over and over again.
A spokesperson for the organization said to The Paisley Daily Express: “The problems at Dargavel village demonstrate how vital it is to evaluate the school rolls and to listen to the local community..
“Developers’ contributions ” are being debated in connection with the appeal to Dykebar however, they should be stopped until the next assessments are completed to ensure to ensure that the council does not make the same mistakes again, costing to the taxpayer and them.”
She also said: “We have continually raised the issue of capacity overflow in the school at St Andrew’s Academy as part of our concerns about the planned Dykebar as well as the UWS Thornly Park campus developments.
