AROUND 100 Garnock Valley residents gathered at Glengarnock Station last Thursday in protest over the site of the new supercampus and swimming pool at Longbar.

Parents and their children waved placards at passing motorists – many hooting and waving in support – to highlight their concerns over what for some children will mean a three mile walk to the school along a route their parents regard as dangerous. The group then walked from the station along the B777 to the proposed site at Longbar.

Earlier, Jackie Clark, a resident of Daisybank in Glengarnock, staged a one man blockade on the Kirkland Road Bridge in sympathy. Mr Clark – sporting a red ‘Tommy Cooper’ style fez – stopped his mobility scooter between the traffic lights blocking traffic in both directions for a around 10 minutes.

The 91-year-old said: “This is the only way to make people take notice. I put this hat on to match the clowns that are responsible for this campus.” Sabrina Smith who has three children currently at Beith Primary School said: “Considering the short notice the protest was reasonably well attended.

“There were lots of apologies from concerned parents who, due to other commitments, were unable to attend.

“This is clearly a major concern for both communities. We also had a parent from Dalry with her children who chose to support us even though her children will be bused to school.

In the latest development in the row, two of the area’s three councillors will table a motion at the next Council meeting calling for it to ‘listen to the community’ and put the brakes on the plans to build at Longbar.

Labour’s John Bell and Independent Jean Highgate will argue that the geological survey of the site has thrown up doubts over poor drainage, undermining and the limited building space available.

The motion will include a request that officers reconsider the options for the location in the light of the information contained in the survey.

Councillor Bell said: “The new campus will be in place for 40 years.

"It is vital that we get it right.

"The recent protests at the proposed Longbar site show that this issue will not go away.

"The motion by myself and Cllr Highgate is a plea to the SNP administration to recognise their mistake and, even at this late date, to ensure the campus is in the right place for the community and for future generations of pupils, parents and teachers of the Garnock Valley." Asked if he sympathised with the parents’ worries, Alan Dick, new head teacher of Garnock Academy who will oversee the transition of the school to the new campus said: “My key aim is to makes sure that as we move into the new build that the staff, pupils and all stakeholders are fully prepared for moving to the new campus and we make the best of the fabulous opportunity that it provides.

“I know that there is a huge amount of work gone in to all aspects of the new build project and I’m sure that we will be working with parents to make sure the pupils are attending the campus and are getting the best possible education.” See next week’s Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald for a full interview with Mr Dick.