Pupils, parents and politicians back campaign to save South Primary

Oct 7 2008 by Kenneth Speirs, Paisley Daily Express

A COLOURFUL campaign to save a Paisley school has taken a new twist – as hundreds of yellow ribbons have been tied to the gates to drum up support.

The ribbons have been placed at the entrance to South Primary, in Neilston Road, by parents and supporters in a bid to show their opposition to plans to close the school.

Traditionally, yellow ribbons have been used as a sign of remembrance for absent loved ones.

Now hundreds of them have been sold at 50 pence a time so they can be tied to the school gates at South Primary in the hope that Renfrewshire Council chiefs will perform a U-turn and ditch the closure proposals.

Pauline Riggens, treasurer of the Parent-Teacher Council at South Primary, said: “We’ve been selling the ribbons before and after lessons and they’ve been very popular.

“They are a good way of highlighting our campaign. We just hope they are allowed to stay there.”

Parents previously erected ‘Save Our School’ signs in the grounds of South Primary but council bosses told the janitor to take them down.

Passing motorists have been sounding their horns when they notice the colourful display of yellow ribbons outside the school.

Mrs Riggens added: “The campaign to save the school is going really well and there’s more to come.

“We will be marching on the council headquarters and will be holding a candlelit vigil.”

Paisley South MSP Hugh Henry and Douglas Alexander, who is MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire South, are among those who have bought the yellow ribbons and tied them to the gates to show their support for the campaign.

“I think the parents have won the argument but it remains to be seen what the council will do,” said Mr Henry.

The announcement by the SNP/Lib Dem-led council that South Primary is facing closure has sparked outrage.

Education chiefs insist the school is two-thirds empty and that it costs more to educate children there than at other schools.

A consultation into the closure plans has been launched, with councillors expected to receive a report on the matter next month.

Councillor Lorraine Cameron, Convener of Renfrewshire Council’s Education Policy Board, said: “No decision has been taken about South Primary and we are in the process of consulting parents about our proposals. But there are sound reasons to consider the future of South Primary.

“The school is two-thirds empty and there are more than enough vacant places at nearby primary schools to take all of South’s pupils even when it is full. We have to think about the best way to provide the whole education service and not just one school.”

“Education costs make up half of the council’s budget. For the next two years, the council has to find an extra £35million to cover issues such as increased food and energy costs and the cost of caring for growing numbers of vulnerable people in our community.

“We’re trying to balance providing the best services that we can within a financial approach that we can sustain.”