THE controversial £40million Garnock supercampus has been given the green light by North Ayrshire Council’s Planning Committee.

Despite strong objections from Kilbirnie and Beith residents over the safety of children having to walk to the school on the B777 and opposition from two of the three local councillors, the planning officers’ recommendation to grant planning permission was approved by the committee yesterday (Tuesday, July 22) with only Labour Councillor Joe Cullinane opposing.

Planning consent was granted with a list of conditions including provision of a detailed travel plan ‘prior to the campus becoming operational’.

Labour councillor John Bell and Independent Jean Highgate both submitted objections to the proposals on the grounds of safety.

In response, senior planning services manager Jim Miller, said that if consent was granted, the council would be compelled to ensure that adequate pupil transportation arrangements are in place prior to the school opening.

He said: “The transportation assessment which is being developed to ensure this is the case is being produced by the project team in liaison with planning and roads officers.

“Through the planning process, Scottish Partnership for Transport are engaged as a statutory consultee and, should the application be successful, the project team and other council support services will carry out further consultation and negotiation to maximise improvements to the local public transport arrangements.

“As the project progresses there will also be a significant emphasis on producing travel plans which address the needs of the various groups who will use the campus, including staff, pupils and the public.

“I trust this clarifies that the transportation arrangements are being treated as a high priority.” The new school was not universally opposed, with Dalry Primary School Parent Council submitting a representation in support – but with qualifications.

It said: “Dalry Primary School Parent Council support the application to have the new campus on the proposed site without any unnecessary delay, but consider that insufficient attention has been given to traffic access and the walking/cycling routes.

“Rather than objecting to the whole application, Dalry Primary School Parent Council consider that all parties involved should work together to get a commitment that, if walking/cycling routes are not of a high standard, then the children affected should be transported by school bus.

“This would help child safety, air quality and traffic management.” Council leader Willie Gibson welcomed the decision and said: “I am delighted that this final hurdle has been cleared and that we can now get on with building this fantastic new facility for the pupils and residents of all the communities of the Garnock Valley.

“Site works will commence within the next few months and the facility is expected to be completed late in 2016.

“It has taken five long years to get to this stage and I am pleased that we can now move full steam ahead with this ambitious project.” Allan Cairns, from Kilbirnie, is one of the parents who objected to the Longbar site.

He said: “It’s a disappointing outcome, but the very fact they pushed it through and held the planning meeting during their normal holiday period stinks of the underhand tactics they have employed from day one.

“All these factors point to a total disregard for public opinion and the safety of the children travelling to this school.

“If the full committee give the go ahead, I really hope we don’t meet with any disasters in relation to all our fears of children’s wellbeing.

“We don’t want to be saying ‘we told you so’.

“But all the cloak and dagger movement by the councillors involved speaks volumes for the fact deep down they know it’s wrong, and for political and financial reasons they have dug their heels in and refused to admit they’ve made a huge mistake.

“Let’s hope some poor child doesn’t pay for it with their life.

“I really don’t expect any of our SNP councillors will have done their campaigns of the future in the Garnock Valley any good.

“But no way were they ever going to say our previous Labour council had made the right choice. Shame on them all.” Cllr Highgate said she was ‘disappointed but not surprised by the decision’, adding: “I would like the safe routes issue to have been sorted before it got to planning. Safety issues are so important – they can’t be allowed to be skirted around.”