Education bosses rubber-stamped the proposals at a special committee meeting on Thursday meaning the school will be built on the site of the high flats.

At the meeting, Terry Lanagan — the executive director of Educational Services — acknowledged the concerns expressed about the site but said Bellsmyre was the best option available.

Mr Lanagan also reminded committee that if the Bellsmyre proposal was rejected, this would delay the project even more and the council would be at the risk of losing out on government funding.

Councillor Michelle McGinty, convenor of the committee, asked councillors to consider a motion to approve the proposal, while also retaining sports facilities at the current school site in Castlehill.

After discussions with Dumbarton councillor Ian Murray, the convenor agreed to add a guarantee that the Bellsmyre Development Trust would still be able to access the Cutty Sark Centre during construction.

As well as this, they also agreed to Councillor Murray’s request for a ‘communications plan’, implemented by officers, which would address the concerns raised about transport, traffic management and safety.

However, Josephine McDaide representing Educational Insitute of Scotland (EIS) union members at OLSP, criticised the proposals.

Ms McDaid put forward her own motion, asking committee to reject the Bellsmyre site. She said: “I find it interesting that 70 per cent of responses were against this proposal.

“I find it quite strange you’re in favour of the plans since you’re supposed to be representing your communities.

“You rejected the Posties Park option because your communities were against it, I don’t think the educational benefits had anything to do with it.

“This is not OLSP’s fault that we are in this situation — the staff don’t want to go, the parents don’t want to go.

“There’s a lot being made of the fact there were only 53 responses, this is totally different from Posties Park. That was a highly emotive issue, people get very protective over their greenspace and I can understand why those communities protested.” Ms McDaid went on to acknowledge the original EIS submission to the council had been misleading, but said the overwhelming majority of members were against the plans.

She added: “I said to members ‘you do realise if this proposal is rejected we won’t get a new school?’ and they confirmed that was their position.” Ms McDaid’s motion failed to gain enough support to pass with only three teacher representatives in favour.

Cllr McGinty’s found unanimous support amongst councillors on the committee meaning proposals to build the school at Bellsmyre will now move forward.

As well as being objected to by EIS, the proposal was also objected to by the OLSP branch of the Secondary School Teachers Association (SSTA).