WEE COUNTY councillors have reiterated their stance that two primary schools marked for closure in a recent budget proposal would in fact remain open.

Parents from both Coalsnaughton and Fishcross primary schools addressed councillors at a meeting on Tuesday afternoon where they described in detail why they think the schools should stay open.

Zoe Bradie, of Fishcross Parent Council, told the chamber that the closure proposal had initially “shocked and disgraced” everyone at the school.

She and her fellow parents quickly mobilised to oppose the move, with the Alloa Advertiser launching its Save our Schools campaign.

Zoe noted lots of backing for these efforts with the petition they started attracting a lot of support and showing just how much residents in the area care about the school.

The mum then listed a number of concerns parents had, including Craigbank primary not being big enough, class sizes being too big, some classrooms not being fit for purpose and the dangerous routes pupils would have to take to get to school.

According to Zoe, there are also a significant number of families at the school who chose Fishcross specifically because of the care their children would get, adding that the needs of some pupils may not have been spotted by teachers had they been attending a larger school.

“Fishcross would have nothing left,” she said. “Some families have had three generations at the school.

"It would be detrimental to the whole area. There is no education benefit.”

Graham Lindsay, education spokesman, then said in response that he appreciates the difficult position parents and staff were put in due to the budget proposal.

He said: “I fully understand it must have been a very difficult time.”

Cheryl Lambie, from Coalsnaughton Parent Council, then addressed elected members, echoing the concerns voiced by those from Fishcross.

She added that their petition garnered over 3,000 signatures, although that number was reduced due to some signatories living outwith the Wee County.

The mum said: “It would rip the heart out of the area, and it would have nothing left.

"Our kids would have to walk almost two miles along an unsafe route. It could lead to fatalities.”

Cheryl went on to say that some additional support needs (ASN) pupils could possibly struggle to cope with such a big move.

Following her speech, Cheryl asked councillors when the school would receive official confirmation that it is not closing.

She said some members of staff have started looking at other jobs, which she says shouldn’t be allowed to happen as the school is doing so well the way it is.

Councillor Martha Benny replied saying she had spoken to a senior education officer who assured her that she was going to phone the school personally to give the staff “confirmations” about the schools.

The councillors then told all petitioners that they would debate the matters raised, in a private session, and send out the next step in the process within seven days.