Councillors vote to close schools

Councillors in Glasgow have voted to close 11 of the city's schools and nine nurseries, despite parents' opposition.

A recommendation was made a week ago to keep one primary and two nurseries open, which councillors have agreed on.

But they decided another 20 closures would go ahead, to tackle falling school rolls and crumbling buildings.

The proposals provoked widespread anger from some parents and community groups, who believe they will have a negative impact on pupils' education.

Parents and campaigners, who have already held a series of protests, gathered outside the city chambers ahead of the vote.

The council has said previously that the closures were not about making savings.

The original plans were expected to have made savings of up to £3.7m per year. However, the council said it planned to re-invest about £5m.

The authority, which carried out a public consultation on the plans, said the proposal was drawn up after a "city-wide assessment" .

Last week the council announced that, following the consultation process, it would retain Ruchill Primary School and Autism Unit, Shawbridge Nursery and Nithsdale Road Nursery.

Earlier this month more than a dozen people staged a sit-in at Wyndford Primary and St Gregory's Primary in Maryhill which lasted almost two weeks.

Pupils at Our Lady of the Assumption Primary in Maryhill were sent home on 20 April after four parents staged a demonstration on the roof of the school.

It came as protestors occupied Victoria Primary in the city's south side, with some chaining themselves to railings.

Marches have taken place against the closures, and protestors have regularly gathered outside council offices to voice their concerns.

Campaigners who had waited outside the meeting all day said they would take legal advice about how best to fight on.

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