Councillors have approved the construction of temporary facilities to house two primary schools while their main buildings are renovated.

Similar plans for Bearsden Primary and Milngavie Primary Schools were approved at East Dunbartonshire Council’s planning committee, both involving the use of temporary buildings for a two-year period.

The portacabins to be occupied by Bearsden Primary School will be located in the grounds of Bearsden Academy, while the Milngavie facilities will be built in Oakburn Avenue.

As a result of the move Bearsden Academy will lose a sports pitch but this was considered to be acceptable due to the temporary nature of the situation.

As many of the pupils live more than a 20-minute walk away from the new site a free bus service is to be introduced for both schools with the aim of limiting the amount of traffic at the location. Each will operate on three routes and be promoted as the preferred option for families to get their children to school.

The performance of the bus services and traffic levels in the area around the Academy will continue to be monitored throughout the two years, and the proposals also include introducing crossing patrols on Drymen Road in Bearsden and Oakburn Avenue and Clober Road in Milngavie.

The planning permission for each project was granted subject to various conditions, including that construction of the temporary buildings must commence within the next three years and they must be removed within two years of initial occupation.