CONTROVERSIAL proposals to ease overcrowding in a primary school have been passed, despite fierce opposition from parents.

Hillhead Primary School in Glasgow is one of a number in various pockets of the city to suffer from lack of appropriate space to cope with the school roll.

For the past 17 months, Glasgow City Council's education services and parents have been debating ways to solve chronic lack of space at Hillhead Primary with 2,400 responses to a public consultation generated.

A decision has now been taken by an executive committee to redraw catchment areas around the primary, saving the adjacent nursery from closure but leaving primary parents frustrated.

Sarah Lowndes, of the Space For Hillhead campaign, said: "The Labour administration has let down our children.

"We have been asking GCC to address the overcrowding in Hillhead Primary for 17 months, the last five of which were taken up in a consultation process best described as a mockery.

"The proposed solution does not address the serious space issues at Glasgow's largest primary school, it will only keep catchment children out of their local school.

"We will therefore be making a formal complaint and will be continuing our campaign to demand Space For Hillhead."

Concerns have been raised about overcrowding in other parts of the city, including Pollok, on the south side, and in the east end, where the Athletes' Village, built in Dalmarnock for the Commonwealth Games, has been turned into housing.

During the next 10 years it is predicted the primary age population in Glasgow will rise by 13 per cent to 18 per cent.

At Hillhead, initial plans suggested moving Kelvin Park Early Years Centre (KPEYC) but parents there argued early years provision is vital, particularly given the demands of the Curriculum for Excellence, and said closing the nursery would negatively impact families.

But primary parents countered that their children are lacking basic facilities due to overcrowding.

Following campaigning from both sides, education bosses opted to withdraw the proposal to move KPEYC.

Instead, the catchment area will now be redrawn, also affecting Oakgrove, Anderson, Garnetbank, Hyndland and Thornwood primary schools.

Plans will also be progressed to turn part of an underground car park into a dance studio and teaching space, despite this suggestion having previously been rejected by councillors as unsuitable.

Kate Cotter, of the Save Kelvin Park Early Years Centre campaign, said it had been an emotional day for nursery parents.

She said: "I'm still shaking at the good news that our children will continue to be happy at this unique, special place.

"We appreciate the thoughtful consideration applied to this decision. Hillhead Primary School and the Kelvin Park Early Years Centre are not and have never been competing interests.

"They complement each other in their dedication to furthering the educational experience and attainment of children of all ages in the local community."

During the meeting of the council's executive committee, Green Party councillor Nina Baker and the SNP's Mhairi Hunter both voted against the proposal with Ms Hunter dubbing it a "sticking plaster" solution.

Councillor Stephen Curran, executive member for education and young people, said during the meeting: "I do take on board that this needs more work done.

"This is not an ideal solution but we do need to take a decision today."

Parents stood and held up a banner reading, 'Labour Turning Their Backs On Our Kids.'

Hillhead is Glasgow's largest primary school, with 682 pupils. The building's ICT suite and library have been turned into classrooms while there are not enough toilets for all pupils.

Mr Curran added: "We needed to make a decision today to minimise any additional stress and anxiety for families.

"The parents need to know which school their children will be attending in six months' time.

"It would have been irresponsible of the council not to change the catchment area today to help address the overcrowding at Hillhead PS.

"We have followed the Schools Consultation Act (2010) to the letter.

"Had the decision been taken to defer the report, as our SNP colleagues suggested, there was a high risk that we would have needed to re-run the consultation again.

"Along with council officers, I will continue to engage with parents, pupils, staff and councillors on the delivery of the best possible education at Hillhead Primary and all schools and nurseries across the city."