Roybridge
A DECISION to close Roybridge Primary School near Fort William was made by Highland councillors on the basis that it would save around £500,000 over 20 years.

However, subsequent haggling over that calculation, including claims that closing the school would actually cost an additional £3m over the same period, have led to Roybridge being reprieved.

It now appears certain that the ruling Independent/SNP coalition will confirm at a council meeting on May 8 that the school will be saved.

The decision in December 2006 to move Roybridge's 27 pupils to the new Spean Bridge Primary School three miles away was made even although parents offered to raise £1m to build a new school themselves and then lease it back to the Highland Council.

Planning permission has already been granted for two extra classrooms at Spean Bridge for the Roybridge pupils.

However, the council subsequently conceded that there was a difference in cost projections for the project - from £15m to £17m over 20 years.

Marie-Clare Russell, one of the parents who led the 18-month campaign, said: "I would say to any other community facing the closure of its local school, go into everything thoroughly and if you want to save your school just keep on fighting."