Plans to reorganise Peterhead’s under-pressure school network were agreed at a public meeting yesterday.
Members of the Buchan area committee met to discuss comprehensive proposals to redraw the catchment areas in the town after figures showed only two of the town’s 10 primary schools were inside their capacity range.
A dozen proposals were brought before the committee and, after much discussion, councillors broadly backed the recommendations of officers.
The report will now be presented to the local authority’s education committee with the Buchan members’ endorsement.
Speaking to the committee yesterday, Rachael Goldring, Aberdeenshire Council’s asset project leader, said: “We’ve concluded our consultation of Peterhead primary school catchment areas.
“We’re suggesting the proposed new catchment areas included in the report.”
She added that “large public concern” about road safety meant the boundary between the town’s Burnhaven and Meethill schools would not be redrawn.
Many parents were unhappy that their children would have to cross Peterhead’s busy 40mph South Road.
Buchan area committee chairman, councillor Stuart Pratt, said: “I think you’ve done extremely well because this is all quite emotive.”
However, the Peterhead councillor asked for the report to the education committee to contain more emphasis on the fact that children who are due to attend the same school as their siblings will not be moved under the new scheme.
Only children starting school for the first time, or moving into the area, will be affected by the proposals.
During the discussion, councillor Alan Buchan raised concerns about how new housing developments in the area would affect the council’s pupil roll projections, and the new zoning.
Ms Goldring said: “Whilst we don’t know how many children or when they will be generated, we are monitoring all housing developments.
“I know there has been a desire for additional school, and we believe we will spot the need for capacity early.”
Several other committee members raised minor issues with the report, but all backed the recommendations, meaning there will be no need for a fresh public consultation.