TULLIBODY’S public park will not become the site of a new school.

Local politicians have pledged to safeguard the green space, after hearing an outpouring of support in favour of maintaining it from the community.

More than 200 residents squeezed into the town’s civic centre during a public meeting organised by the Save Tullibody Public Park campaign on Thursday (25 June) and told the panel of councillors – Ellen Forson, George Matchett, Les Sharp, Jim Stalker and Donald Balsillie – what they thought about the authority’s informal consultation on building a school on the land.

After listening to the views, all elected members agreed the park should be left alone.

Giving his commitment, council leader Mr Sharp told the room: “I’m more than happy to say we will not touch the public park at all.” As previously reported in the Advertiser, Save Tullibody Public Park was created to give residents a voice and it has been generating discussion through dedicated Facebook and Twitter pages, while a petition against building on the park garnered more than 1208 signatures.

During the meeting held last week campaigners outlined the importance of the space and pointed out it was the most beautiful part of Tullibody, it housed mature trees and wildlife, was part of the area’s heritage, was a large and safe open space, was crucial for health and well-being and was a community hub.

They also suggested alternative options for the local authority to consider.

After the result Pauline Macnaughtan, one of the residents behind the campaign, said: “We are absolutely delighted with the outcome of the public meeting.

“Councillor Les Sharp’s commitment not to build on our park was exactly what we had hoped for. The next step for us will be to ensure our community is kept informed of any new developments and we look forward to seeing the new school and park working together to the benefit of the whole town.” Speaking after the meeting, Mr Sharp said he found it refreshing to see so many people passionate about their green space and community.

He addressed concerns raised that the final decision lay with council officers – and that plans to build on the site had already been drawn up – and said elected members led the way.

He said: “Council officers are there to provide a service to both us and the people of Clackmannanshire, or wherever.

“We set the direction of travel, it’s our job to do that, that’s why people elect us to put that direction of travel in. If we go back and say ‘you’re not building on the park’ they will not build on the park – no matter what’s been said.” He stressed that he was keen to keep engaging with the community of Tullibody to find out what residents want.

He said: “The guys that came here put me in my job. It’s my job to listen to these guys and if we don’t, I deserve not to be in the job.

“Council officers are there to be guided by what we say. They’re there to provide the support, the technical expertise, that kind of stuff.

“It’s our job to make the decision and I hope that came across tonight. We’re listening and we are making that decision, and we will listen again before any decision is made.” Ms Forson, who is also the council’s education convenor, echoed his sentiments.

She said: “I hope that people left the meeting assured that everybody up here [on the panel] has said that the park will not be built on. That’s what the consultation process is all about, it’s to listen to people’s views, listen to the community.

“We’ve heard them – now it’s our job to go back and find another solution.” Ward councillor Mr Matchett, who volunteered his surgery slot for the meeting, was incredibly pleased with how local residents had mobilised.

Following the meeting he said: “I’m absolutely delighted with how the community have responded to the notification of a public meeting, what really surrounds the continuance or otherwise, of a major green space here in Tullibody – the public park.

“I think anyone that’s been present here tonight, and most certainly myself, were overwhelmed by the attitude of the audience in indicating quite clearly that they would not tolerate losing the public park.

“I’m also very grateful to my colleagues, the four other councillors who came here, who have also now given an undertaking alongside myself that we need to go back to the drawing board and look at what we want to do with these schools and under no circumstances will we utilise the public park.” The informal consultation Clackmannanshire Council launched looked at three options: -Building a new Abercromby Primary School on a new site with associated community facilities.

-Building a new Abercromby Primary School and St Bernadette’s Primary School on a new joint campus with associated community facilities.

-Building a new Abercromby Primary School and St Bernadette’s and St Mungo’s on a new joint campus with associated community facilities.

You can still give feedback until it ends on Friday (3 July) via www.clacksweb.org.uk/learning/centurylearning/