PLANS to close Paisley Grammar School and build a replacement on the site of the Chivas whisky plant in the town's Renfrew Road have been unveiled.

Renfrewshire Council is set to approve a six-week consultation on the proposals, to give parents and other members of the community a chance to have their say.

Education chiefs considered three options for a new Paisley Grammar School to replace the existing category B-listed structure, which was built at the end of the 19th century but is now showing "major defects.”

The preferred option of creating a new campus at the soon-to-be vacant Chivas site was chosen over building a replacement at a site in the town's Seedhill Road or at the existing site in Glasgow Road.

Various criteria was used to rate all three sites, including costs, size, accessibility, public transport links and the school's catchment area.

Councillors on the Education and Children’s Services Policy Board will meet on Thursday, March 12, to be asked to approve the consultation, which would begin on Monday, March 30, and run until Monday, June 1.

A public meeting will also be held at Paisley Grammar School at 6.30pm on Wednesday, April 22.

Council chiefs say the new-build school would provide "state-of-the-art technology and enhanced drama, performance, media and learning facilities to support pupils’ attainment and their wider achievement."

They added that pupils would also benefit from high-quality sports and outdoor areas that can't be provided at the school’s current location.

Councillor Jim Paterson, the council's depute leader, said: “We want all our pupils to have the best learning environments possible and the proposals to relocate Paisley Grammar School will help us provide the educational facilities that a modern high school requires.

“The current location for the school is not big enough to provide the required outdoor and indoor learning environments that we want to provide for all our children and young people.

“If the community gives us the go-ahead to develop these proposals, then officers will work with partners to develop detailed plans for a new community campus facility.”

The new school would be on land that will be vacated by Chivas later this year, with the council in advanced negotiations with the drinks giant to complete the purchase of the majority of the 24-acre site.

Funding would come from the council’s £27million School Estate Management Plan, together with an application to the Scottish Government’s £1billion School Estate Investment Programme.

Pupils, parents and anyone living in the catchment area for Paisley Grammar School is invited to attend the public meeting on April 22.

They can also get involved by visiting www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/haveyoursay.

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