SPECIALIST school support services in the Wee County will move to Tullibody, after approval from councillors last week.

The permanent relocation of Clackmannanshire Primary and Secondary School Support Services (CSSS) to the former St Bernadatte's PS building in Tullibody was green lit at a virtual meeting of elected representatives on Thursday, June 22.

It comes after the closure of the CSSS building on Bedford Place in Alloa, a C-listed property hit by roof and masonry issues – as reported in July 2020.

Council papers explained the projected costs to sustain the Alloa building as a school facility are expected to be in excess of £3.5million, excluding project fees, and it was agreed that the building would be actively marketed for sale instead.

The council consulted on the issue with the community as well as with Education Scotland on the educational benefits with all requirements resolved or currently being addressed.

During the consultation exercise, a number of people highlighted parking issues around the area with councillors picking up on the matter at the meeting.

Council officers explained staff are using nearby park and stride facilities and are only parking at the refurbished site when they are transporting pupils.

Cllr Graham Lindsay, education spokesperson, proposed the paper and said: "I think there's some valid points there in regard to school parking and I note that it's not an easy answer.

"I am very aware as education spokesperson across the whole authority how much of a challenge that's been.

"It's certainly worth, and it's already being undertaken, having a wider look at what we can do across the whole authority to alleviate school congestion and that's something the administration are taking on."

Cllr Lindsay explained there are great examples of school communities maximising park and stride facilities, highlighting practices as at St Serf's PS, also in Tullibody.

He also spoke about the educational benefits of bringing both primary and secondary services under one roof, including a seamless transition for pupils and the extensive school grounds that provide a safe space for children.

Cllr Kenny Earle told the chamber the Labour group had no concerns about supporting the move.

He added: "The children and young people using the facility have certainly settled now and I really hope that it's a success for the future.

"I'm not going to open a debate on the state of some of the buildings, not going to go down that rabbit hole.

"It has been extremely sad to watch a category C-listed building deteriorate but the bottom line is: it has come to the end of its useful life."

Tullibody's Cllr Darren Lee added the children were glad to have useable outdoor space and welcomed the service to the town, adding it should link up with the numerous charities that work in the town.

It is understood the service will change its name to The Orchard, despite residents pointing out in consultation that there is already a nearby care home in the town by the same name.