COUNCILLORS were last week given assurances over the state of school properties in the Wee County.

Councillor George Matchett sought assurances from local authority chiefs at last Thursday's, September 24, special Clackmannanshire Council meeting.

ABC Nursery has been under the spotlight in recent months over ongoing problems to the roof which threatens to close the building.

Elected members agreed to undertake statutory consultation on the matter, to be completed by the end of the 2020-21 academic year.

The virtual Kilncraigs chamber also heard about plans for Park PS to provide high quality and flexible early learning and childcare (ELC) provision and agreed an extension to the building.

Progress has also been made to relocate the school support services for both primary and secondary school pupils, due to serious structural defects identified at the CSSS building on Bedford Place in Alloa.

A short-to-medium-term solution has seen refurbishment completed at the former St Bernadette's building in Tullibody, now known as The Orchard.

Questioning senior council officers, Cllr Matchett said: "I have been watching, as a number of councillors have been watching, the deterioration in a lot of our properties over a number of years.

"This comes off the back of us closing the former St Mungo's Primary School because of difficulties, now we are going to close ABC Nursery because of difficulties."

He added: "Are we aware of the deterioration of our properties and are we aware of the lack of investment these reports more or less indicate to me?"

Responding, council officers said: "We share the concerns about the condition of our properties.

"We have up to date survey information and the majority of our properties are in a good condition.

"However, we wish to do some further investigation on a range of properties so we have detailed structural surveys."

Councillor Graham Lindsay, spokesman for education, added after the meeting: "The health and safety of our young people, staff and families is our priority and officers have been dealing with a number of challenging issues around education estates.

"I am grateful for all the work that has happened to ensure that our children continue to receive the very highest quality education provision despite these events.

"I am also pleased to see our Primary and Secondary Support Services so settled at their new location at The Orchard and thank the staff and families for helping to make sure that everything was ready in time for the new term.

"A full consultation on the potential closure of ABC ELC will now be put together which it is hoped will be completed by the end of the 2020-21 academic year.

"This will give everyone a chance to see the proposals and to make their views known before a decision is taken."