Parents at a Perthshire school have vowed to keep fighting plans to build an extension over their playground, as the council ploughs ahead with the plans.
Perth and Kinross Council wants to expand the nursery at Rattray Primary School, using part of the current playground.
But parents say the loss of outdoor space is not fair on the children at the school and asked the local authority to change the plans in a series of meetings held last year.
They are angry that the council has now announced it will go ahead with the extension.
Rattray Primary School Parent Council chairwoman Claire Galloway, who has two children at the school, said: “It’s the area where the kids do their bike ability course and have their sports lessons so it will be a huge loss.
“We don’t have an issue with the extension itself, that will be great for the nursery, it’s where they want to put it. It will be great for the nursery but the schoolchildren will lose out.
“It’s like the council is steaming ahead with what they want without listening to the people who care about the children the most.”
Extending the nursery will allow for a new “early childhood centre”, with 74 places for childcare between 8am and 6pm.
The council has offered to upgrade an unused courtyard into a new play area but parents say this is too small for the 237 pupils.
Repair work on the main school building will also be carried out but Claire said this would not make up for the loss of space, both during construction work and beyond, and insisted parents would object to the planning application when it is submitted.
“The courtyard is too small, even with staggered playtimes,” she said.
“Children need to run around to let off steam and if they can’t do that it will cause problems in the classroom.
“We will keep pushing until the diggers come in because it’s about the children of Rattray, not just now but in the future too.”
Conservative councillor Caroline Shiers, convener of the council’s lifelong learning committee, said the proposals for the new early childhood centre made the best use of the available space.
“We will work with staff at the primary school and nursery on the practical issues as we move forward with this extension and we will work to minimise any impact on pupils and classes as much as possible,” she added.
“We will also ensure that parents and carers of pupils attending Rattray Primary School and nursery will be kept informed through the normal school communication arrangements.”
