Cumbernauld Primary Should Re-open

I was saddened to read reports that the school building on Glasgow Road, Cumbernauld Village, is becoming vandalised and derelict - and have reiterated calls I made in submission to the North Lanarkshire Draft Local Plan process at the beginning of November.

The building is deteriorating rapidly, yet demand for primary school places is increasing in Cumbernauld, and the new shared primary campus on Eastfield Road is already struggling to cope with demand.

Re-opening the primary school in Cumbernauld Village would mean the building once again becomes a place of learning and development that unites the community in pride, instead of a place of vandalism and destruction that unites the community in concern.

The recent Scottish budget announced by Finance Minister John Swinney included £115 million extra capital for local authorities in 2008/09 which can be invested in schools.

New houses are being built north of the A80, and almost 100 new homes will be constructed in Cumbernauld Village in the coming months. Consideration must be given to re-opening the Village Primary School to cater for the huge number of new pupils these houses will bring.