THE Scottish Government has been urged to provide additional funding to build and refurbish schools in East Dunbartonshire. 

Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced in the Budget last week there will be an additional £3.4billion in funding for Scotland. 

Now, East Dunbartonshire Council (EDC) has written to the First Minister and Chancellor asking for the government to provide additional resources to the council from the funding to carry out much-needed work on a number of schools in the area. 

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Damp on walls in Milngavie Primary School (Image: Supplied) We previously reported EDC wrote to the Scottish and Westminster governments earlier this year seeking additional resources after a lack of funds led to the council postponing plans to rebuild Balmuidy Primary in Bishopbriggs and refurbish Bearsden and Milngavie primary schools. 

Susan Murray, MP for Mid Dunbartonshire, met with council representatives to discuss concerns regarding the progress of replacement schools across the area and the existing Milngavie Primary School building.

The Milngavie Primary Parent Council told the Glasgow Times in September that the school is currently "not a safe, healthy learning environment".

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Susan Murray MP with cllr Ben Rose outside St Helen's Primary School in Bishopbriggs (Image: Gordon Terris Newsquest) Mandy McCormick said: "Parents are hugely concerned that their small, infant children are sitting in classrooms where there’s water coming in on their head, there’s mushrooms on bathroom walls and they’re walking through halls covered in mould."

However, council officials have assured parents that the building is safe and say an independent contractor said there is no mould issues. 

In October, cllr Ben Rose also said a 14-year wait for St Helen's Primary School in Bishopbriggs to be replaced is "unacceptable".

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Murray, who is supporting the council's calls for further funding, said: "Parents and families across our community still have little clarity on the financial situation facing the building and refurbishment of schools in Mid and East Dunbartonshire. 

"The Scottish Government must use the additional resources provided by the Chancellor to allow this vital work to proceed.  

"Our school pupils must have buildings that are modern, well-maintained, and fit for purpose to help them realise their potential."

Cllr Gordan Low, leader of East Dunbartonshire Council said: "I can confirm that the council’s chief executive, as instructed by council, has written to the First Minister and the UK Chancellor on this matter, and we await a reply."

A spokesperson for the Education Secretary said: "Since the SNP Government came to office, there has been an extraordinary improvement in our school estate. 

"The latest figures show that 91.7% of schools are in ‘good’ or ‘satisfactory’ condition, whereas when the last Labour government left office in 2007 that figure was only 62.7%.

"But we are determined to build on this progress further through the £2bn Learning Estate Investment Programme, which East Dunbartonshire Council is receiving funding through for Lenzie Academy."