This week the Alliance of Independents, LibDems and Tories formed a new coalition within Argyll and Bute Council following the recent walk out of SNP Councillors over proposals to close 25 Primary Schools.

As the new posts in THE ADMINISTRATION were announced, the Leader of the SNP Group, Councillor Robert MacIntyre said: ‘Whilst for the good of Argyll and Bute we wish the new administration well with the challenges that lie ahead, the SNP group are determined to be an able and effective opposition.

Opposition strategy

‘We intend to be highly organised and well connected with our communities, as we have with the Schools issue, to ensure that we are offering the best possible representation of their views.

‘We won’t oppose for opposition sake. Where there is common ground we will be supportive.

‘However we intend fully to scrutinise this Administration and hold them to account on a whole range of matters which we feel would be to the detriment of Argyll and Bute.

‘The first and most pressing matter is the School estate and the proposals to close 25 of our rural Primary Schools.

School closures ‘would be a form of rural vandalism on a scale never seen before in Argyll and Bute’

‘Unfortunately, these proposals have now gone to a formal consultation – and let’s be clear this is a consultation to close 25 schools. Whilst the Liberal Democrats are celebrating and toasting their new positions and some Independents are scrambling about in a self-justification exercise while at the same time assuring their communities that they are ‘supportive’ of their local schools, the SNP are clear that these proposals, if enacted, would be a form of rural vandalism on a scale never seen before in Argyll and Bute.

‘The SNP group listened to what the people of Argyll and Bute were telling us, which was effectively that not only was this an attack on the future sustainability of  communities but that the information in the proposals was far from robust, on that basis, we were very clear that we could not sign up to these proposals.

Councillor Semple to be Schools Campaign Liaison

‘We will continue to support rural schools and to that end we have arranged for Cllr John Semple to act as our link with School campaigns as well as with ARSN and SRSN to ensure that we can put forward the most compelling case for the retention of these schools which are at the very heart of our Communities’.

Councillor Semple says: ‘ I will be working hard alongside our communities to ensure that together we can make their voices heard loud and clear, that we can demonstrate the value of these schools and can highlight where we think that the information provided can be challenged.

‘I am very much looking forward to being connected with ARSN and SRSN.

‘I am full of admiration for the work they have done so far in bringing everyone together in a united front and in depth analysis on a whole range of detail contained in the proposals’.

Councillor Semple’s contatct details

Email Councillor John Semple at:  john.semple@argyll-bute.gov.uk