MINISTERS have consented to controversial plans by a Scottish council to close a Catholic primary school.
Earlier this year, the Scottish Government had called in the decision by East Dunbartonshire Council to shut St Joseph's Primary School in Milngavie, Glasgow, giving hope to parents.
However, the government has now ruled that the local authority was right to merge the school with St Andrew's Primary, in Bearsden, despite the fact it is the only Catholic primary in Milngavie.
Ministers called in the proposed closure after concerns from campaigners that council consultation documents potentially included inaccurate data relating to the cost and savings of closure and creating a new facility as well as how future school rolls were calculated.
But a government statement to the council said: "Following further investigation and having looked at the totality of what has been considered by East Dunbartonshire Council in coming to its decision to close the school the Scottish ministers are satisfied that East Dunbartonshire Council has fulfilled its obligations..... and that the proposal is a reasonable one which the council is entitled to make.
"Having considered carefully the information available to them on the contended inaccuracies, the Scottish ministers are content that East Dunbartonshire Council has met its statutory obligations in relation to the accuracy of information contained in its consultation documents."
Following the decision, parents from the school pledged to fight on with the possibility of legal action.
Over 500 people in both Milngavie and Bearsden took part in the council's original consultation process, with 87% opposed. The Catholic Church even described the plan as a "serious deterioration" in denominational provision.
A petition to save the school has reached more than 1,700 signatures and celebrities including actress Dorothy Paul and former Scotland star Murdo MacLeod have backed the campaign.
Chair of St Joseph's parent council Laureen McIntyre said: "Throughout this campaign we have been overwhelmed with support from across the community and we want to say thank you.
"The Scottish Government's decision to give its consent to closure is very disappointing, but we have proven that St Joseph's Primary is a cherished part of our community and we will now consider our options, including a legal challenge.
"East Dunbartonshire Council's own consultation report concluded that its plans were discriminatory. Catholics in Milngavie are not second class citizens and our children have the same right to be educated at a local school as anyone else's.
"Some parents were in tears at this morning's Christmas nativity play. It appears to us that the people who will be most affected by this closure have been ignored. We will fight on."
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