East Renfrewshire Council issued the statement below following the recent opinion by the Court of Session on Barrhead High School:

The council is extremely disappointed with the decision of the Court of Session.

We had decided to seek a legal opinion to clarify the Council’s ability to build the new Barrhead High School on the preferred site within Cowan Park.

The site chosen was assessed as being the logical choice as it was the location of the current Barrhead High School.  Plans were in place to make improvements to the park following the demolition of the existing school.

Since the publication of the opinion, we have taken legal advice and have already given instruction to lodge an appeal. A further legal route would be a Private Members Bill to the Scottish Parliament.  However, this is likely to take a significant length of time, in the region of 18 months.

We remain undeterred and committed to providing a new school for the children, young people and wider community of Barrhead as quickly as possible.

In parallel to lodging the appeal, officers are looking at alternative sites within Cowan Park and more widely in Barrhead.

We remain steadfast in our determination to deliver a new Barrhead High School and we will take every step to ensure this is realised.

If anyone should know the effects of liquid at 0 degrees temperature on the human body, it is a scientist. You would think therefore that they would know better than to accept the ice bucket challenge. However reason went down the drain, along with the water, for our hardy staff when given the opportunity to raise some funds for charity.

Mr Noor, Mrs McCallum, Mrs Ross, Mr Malloy and Miss Ballantyne, with Mr Sinclair as a catalyst, proved to be a force to be reckoned with in the quadrangle in front of the whole school at the morning interval on Friday.

Despite several attempts to dissolve them, the brave six remained solid in their resolve and conquered the challenge – much to the delight of the pupils.

Over £320 was raised and will be passed on to MacMillan Cancer and our local charity East Renfrewshire Good Causes. Thanks to all who supported them and made a donation.

We have been waiting for some months now for a decision from the Court of Session which would have allowed the building of the new school to proceed as planned.

 The Court of Session ruling has now been published and is available on the Scottish Courts site. It has gone against East Renfrewshire Council. It appears to be a fairly technical decision about whether this use of land counts as a “disposal” or an “appropriation”. This judge has ruled the latter which the court then has no powers to authorise.

 What is not clear yet is what the implications of this are in terms of proceeding with the building of a new school for Barrhead.  This is a very complex issue and the council will need time to reflect and review the options. I am hoping to receive further information regarding this in the near future and will update you as soon as I can.

 Whatever the case, this has come as a major disappointment to the whole school community and, I am certain, much of the wider community as well. At the very least, we are faced with a further delay in seeing our young people being educated in the quality of facilities that they deserve.

 The council, however, remains undeterred in its determination to build a new Barrhead High School.

 In the meantime, we will all continue to work hard to further the improvements we have already achieved in Barrhead High School over the last few years and I am confident that East Renfrewshire Council will continue to work to achieve a positive result for us all.