New Isobel Mair school approved

Fears over toxic waste or contaminated land in Newton Mearns were dismissed by East Ren's planners.

Work on the new site, within the Greenlaw development in Newton Mearns, was given the go-ahead at yesterday's planning committee meeting.

Concerns had been raised by locals that the new location was on contaminated land by these fears were dismissed by councillor Ian McAlpine yesterday.

He told the meeting: "We are taking all steps we can to make sure this area is safe and (not ) a toxic site we are building upon.

"I'm comfortable and happy to let it be used for that because there's definitely no toxic waste."

East Renfrewshire councillors voted unanimously for 12.6 million funding to be earmarked for the new building last May - but the decision only came to the planning board yesterday.

The school's current home at Drumby Crescent provides for 130 pupils aged between five and 18, but is over capacity and in need of replacement.

Planning vice chair Betty Cunningham told The Extra: "It's going to be fantastic for the kids and much needed.

"The children and staff really deserve it and it's long overdue.

"It's been a long road to get this far".

Although in favour of the school's construction, Mearns community council had previously expressed grave concern about the previous use of the site as a waste dump and the prospect that the ground could be contaminated.

The matter had also been raised by a neighbour, Gordon Watson, who added concerns about flooding and water drainage to his own of the contamination.

Long-term Mearns residents recalled the area as a dump for medical waste - a story dispelled by the NHS when approached by The Extra two years ago.

SEPA, the national environmental protection agency said the site "does not lie within the boundary of a designated contaminated land special site, or on designated radioactively contaminated land."

That means now funding and permission is secure, diggers can move in.

Headteacher Mari Wallace said: "This is good news for all of our pupils, staff and parents.

"It's a significant step on the road towards our ne school and we look forward to the project going forward".