By Kieran Andrews

A DUNDEE councillor has vowed to take on board the views of those campaigning against plans to close Lochee Primary School and move it to a merged site in Charleston.

Lochee’s Labour representative Tom Ferguson said that he has been in discussion with education spokesman Laurie Bidwell about a poll showing that 96% oppose the merger.

He added that they would analyse the findings and seek “professional advice.”

Lochee Community Action (LCA), who sent out the survey, will send the results to Dundee City Council’s education chiefs.

This comes after education convener Liz Fordyce said she would not entertain the survey until it had been “legitimised.”

LCA, which is made up of parents, members of Lochee Parish Church and the community, has also claimed the council is “not listening” to the public’s views.

But Mr Ferguson said that he is “sure” the group will produce the sources to back up the survey and that the views expressed in it are “views held by concerned people.”

He also expressed surprise at Mrs Fordyce’s reply and called on the council to give LCA’s view more credence.

He said, “I know these groups and they are serious and well informed people and should at least be listened to in a courteous and communicative manner.

“Nothing should be rushed through if there is any shred of evidence or doubt about this matter.”

The poll was sent out to around 1000 Lochee households and almost 450 people responded.

Nine out of 10 said they were against the plans to merge Lochee and Charleston primaries at Balgartho Place, occupied by St Clement’s Primary School.

St Clement’s would remain on site under the plans, but would stay separate on religious grounds.

However, Mr Ferguson said that assurances should be given that any move will not damage the Lochee community.

He said, “If there is positive evidence that Lochee will suffer from an inclusive community point of view then this should be answered in a constructive and informative fashion and proven one way or the other and evidenced by professional and the public’s views.

“I have no doubt about the sincerity of the action group’s intentions.

“Their concerns were always held in the interests of Lochee families and children and I hope we can somehow accommodate them in the pursuit of this goal.”

Lochee Community Action Group spokeswoman Fiona Taylor said yesterday she hoped the council would take the views of the Lochee community into account.

She said, “We are going to Email the results so they can look at how many people are opposed to the plans.

“These are not people who are just opposed to change, they all have valid reasons for their opposition and the council needs to start listening.”

They are not listening or taking into account the feelings of people living in Lochee.

“It seems that councils and governments don’t listen to the very people they are supposed to be looking after.”

She added, “We are really pleased with the support we have got locally.

The majority of people I speak to don’t want the move to happen and are pleased to see someone doing something about it.”