West Dunbartonshire Council’s educational services committee approved a recommendation from council officers to pull the plan following reservations by Education Scotland and opposition from parents groups and the Archdiocese of Glasgow.

The proposal would have created a new Riverside Early Learning and Childcare Centre and new Renton Primary School and Language Unit along with a new co-located St Mary’s Primary School, incorporating St Martin’s Primary School. The development would have been constructed on an area currently occupied by a football pitch at the front of Vale of Leven Academy as well as the grounds of St Martin’s Primary School.

Submissions against the proposal were received from the Parent Councils of St Mary’s, St Martin’s and Renton primary schools and Vale of Leven Academy as well as teaching staff at St Mary’s and Vale of Leven Academy and the Archdiocese of Glasgow.

Responses in favour of the new school were submitted on behalf of teachers from St Martin’s and Renton primaries and the language unit.

Council officers will now develop new plans to address issues affecting the schools estate, taking account of the poor condition of the Renton and St Martin’s/Riverside buildings.

Councillor Michelle McGinty, convener of educational services, said: “We said at the outset we would listen to the views of the community on this proposal. While some parents and school staff supported the plan, it was clear that there was significant opposition.

“We remain committed to improving learning environments for children and young people in the Alexandria area. We’ve now asked officers to draft alternative projects which will tackle the ageing buildings in our school estate. We will continue to work with parents, carers and the community to achieve the best outcomes for our children and young people.”

Councillor John Mooney, deputy convener of educational services, added: “Our strategy for regenerating learning has already delivered a number of state of the art school buildings for communities across West Dunbartonshire and work is underway to develop more new schools in Dumbarton, Balloch and Clydebank. Each of these projects has been delivered with the full support of the communities they serve and we will take the same approach to regenerating the schools estate in Alexandria. I look forward to new proposals being brought forward in 2016 for schools in the area.”