Another mothball year for Luing Primary looks likely

Councillors are recommended to agree to continue mothballing the school until March 2026, with the process reported to have cost around £12,000 in the past year.

Argyll and Bute Council’s community services committee decided last March to keep mothballing the school following a roll call vote, despite officers’ recommendations it should close.

It is also proposed that the community will have access to the building for any community functions during the continued mothballing of the school. The community services committee will meet today, Thursday, March 6.

Executive director Douglas Hendry said: “Whilst Luing Primary School remains mothballed, pupils residing in the school’s catchment area have been rezoned temporarily to Easdale Primary School.

“The parents and pupils whom officers spoke to are generally satisfied with the educational experience at Easdale Primary School.

“Several parents stated that they feel that the larger number of pupils at Easdale is beneficial to their children, in terms of socialisation and friendship groups.

“One parent expressed their view that ultimately it would be preferable for Luing Primary School to reopen, but appreciates that current numbers do not allow for this.

“Easdale Primary school plan events during the school day or towards the end of a day for transport purposes. These events include concerts, sports clubs for pupils and parent/carer consultation meetings.

“Whilst, as in any school, these timings will not suit all parents/carers, the school works hard to ensure that no families from Luing miss out on these opportunities due to transport limitations.”

The report also said that the roll of Luing Primary School was not expected to go higher than six pupils by 2028 at the earliest.

Mr Hendry added: “A return door-to-door transport service from individual addresses on Luing runs to Easdale Primary School. This service was reintroduced around May 2024.

“The Luing taxi transport is a council vehicle which can accommodate five children. Currently, three pupils use this service frequently with one child using it more occasionally.

“In August 2025, there will be an additional school age child requiring transport from Luing. The school transport team will continue to keep the uptake of the service, and capacity of the transportation, under review.

“Feedback from parents of children using service reported that the driver is very accommodating in terms of any changes to drop off points and is also good at communicating directly with families over any changes, if the ferry is disrupted due to weather conditions, etc.

“There were concerns raised over communication between the council’s transport teams (roads and infrastructure services) more widely with families and Easdale Primary School.

“Parents commented that the ferry team is accommodating and at times is able to offer an additional service to ensure that children are not required to wait until the next scheduled ferry.”