CONSULTATION has begun on revised plans for a new school for the Three Towns North Ayrshire Council revealed this week.

Last October, following criticism from parents, the council binned its plans for a supercampus at Ardrossan Academy that would have merged Ardrossan, Auchenharvie and the two schools for children with additional support needs Haysholm and James McFarlane.

Last week NAC announced that £30million is to be spent on building a new Largs Academy on the site of the Inverclyde Sports Centre raising concerns that funds for the Three Towns school might have been lost.

However, this week a Council spokesperson said: “We are making good progress with our strategic review of education and the future of educational provision throughout North Ayrshire’s neighbourhoods, including that of the Three Towns.

“We are continuing to undertake extensive consultation with everyone who has an interest in learning in North Ayrshire – including pupils, parents and staff as well as the wider community. The feedback from all of these stakeholders will help inform the review process and the outcome report will be presented to the Council’s Cabinet for consideration in early 2015.

“Meanwhile, a unique and time limited opportunity has arisen within the current phase of the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) programme for North Ayrshire to replace Largs Academy and create a joint education and sport campus on the site of sportscotland’s National Centre Inverclyde. Given the time limited nature of the SFT funding the Cabinet is to consider submitting an application for the Largs proposal.

“Once the strategic review of education is complete in early 2015, and further public engagement has taken place on the future requirements for educational provision within the Three Towns, the Council will then consider how those requirements will be delivered. At that stage the Council will, naturally, wish to identify what funding options may be available, including further phases of the Scottish Futures Trust programme.” Chair of Auchenharvie Parent Council Veron Maneely said last week that she had not yet been contacted over any revised plans for a new school, however, NAC added that the review currently involves head teachers and teaching staff and will widen to include parents and carers after the summer break.