School Closures To Go Ahead In Fife

Councillors vote in favour of shutting five schools across the Kingdom as part of budget savings.

Five primary school's are to close in Fife. Councillors have voted in favour of shutting Dunino, New Gilston, Rathillet, Tanshall and Wellwood. Fife Council says work to move pupils, staff and resources to nearby schools will begin after the easter break with a view of completing the project by the start of the new term in August. Councillors insist all teachers at affected primaries will be re-deployed.

Local authority spokesman, Bryan Poole says today's decision will eventually save around £43 million but campaigners claim the decision to close the schools will 'decimate' communities.

Crombie Primary School was also under threat; however councillors have voted 14 to 6 in favour of not proceeding with its closure for now. Instead, there will be a new consultation undertaken to look at re-zoning the catchment to Limekilns Primary.