By Seonag Mackinnon BBC Scotland Education correspondent

For few issues galvanise larger numbers of vocal voters, including many who don't normally take an active interest in local affairs.

Parents bond with the building and the staff who educate their young.

Protests have been held at Drummond Community High School

Western Isles councillors with closures on their minds took a pummelling from parents and the education minister this week.

The precise plans are now in limbo with, ostensibly, the future of every school in the region under review.

Now Edinburgh council is touching on the lives of a large swathe of the city.

About one in seven pupils will see their school gates closed for ever.

And thousands more will be indirectly affected as they'll be squeezing up to make room for displaced pupils from schools shut down and sold off.

For example, Queensferry Primary is to take in the pupils at Dalmeny and Liberton High is to take in pupils from Castlebrae in Craigmillar.

'Bite the bullet'

It is widely known that the Labour politicians who ran the city until May had planned closures too, perhaps more limited, but postponed an announcement until after the election.

The new LibDem and SNP coalition has been persuaded by council officers to bite the bullet.

They will be hoping that they're not effectively shooting themselves in the foot, that by the time the next election comes around parents' ire has largely subsided.

Or at the very least that parents don't see the present politicians in charge as the baddies, the former as the goodies.

It is likely council officers, perhaps with the knowing consent of elected councillors, have earmarked for closure more schools than they really intend to close.

The financial watchdog Audit Scotland only advises local councils to review whether a school should be kept open, if it falls below that threshold of 60% Targeted schools 'not half empty' List of schools to be closed

That way they can be seen to be a "listening council" withdrawing the threat of closure from schools with the strongest cases for survival - or could it be those with the strongest campaign group behind them?

Those with few empty desks are logically in a stronger position.

The council has now revealed that six schools Abbeyhill (91%), St Cuthbert's (82%), Dalmeny (84%), Stockbridge (89%), St Catherine's (72%) and Drummond (79%), have filled at least 60% of their places.

The financial watchdog Audit Scotland only advises local councils to review whether a school should be kept open, if it falls below that threshold of 60%.

But council leaders can argue there are still substantial savings to be had from shutting even schools such as Dalmeny, which have full classes.

Queensferry Primary has the space to absorb the Dalmeny roll in its entirety.

And they argue they simply have to make savings.

Social services

This proposal means �9m a year less in running costs.

It is widely believed that what some teachers feared, has come to pass.

Edinburgh has like many other councils merged the education service with social services for children.

Money is no longer ring fenced.

The capital has spent millions trying to improve the social services which were judged to be lacking after inquiries into well publicised tragic cases such as Caleb Ness, the baby who died six years ago in the care of his drug addict mother and brain-damaged father.

Some may argue the council is making a brave but wise decision in diverting money.