Dumfries and Galloway councillors agree to continue mothballing Stewartry school

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A Stewartry school will continue to be mothballed for another two years. But councillors have questioned the length of time for the stay of execution for Carsphairn Primary.

The school closed in 2019 when the final two pupils left and has been lying empty for a further two years. A report for Tuesday’s meeting of the education committee revealed officials felt there should be a “further mothballing period of up to two years” as the community had “aspirations for growth” and was looking to improve housing.

However, Councillor Linda Dorward said: “I totally understand why the community would want some time to look at housing and raise that case to increase the population but there doesn’t seem to be any progress on that at the moment. “Why a further two years?

Could we shorten the period for consultation and kick it off in a year’s time unless there is any vast material change in circumstances?” School estate specialist Louise Rae, who wrote the report, said legislation meant the closure process couldn’t be started again within a five year period – which would have passed when the mothballing period ends – to “protect the school community”.