THE new multi-million pound Our Lady and St Patrick's High School in Dumbarton is expected to welcome pupils in late October.

The Reporter can reveal how the handover to the local authority from the contractors will take place in four months' time.

West Dunbartonshire Council is already preparing for the changeover from the old school to the new one and a working group is already aiming to ensure the "smooth transition."

A West Dunbartonshire Council spokesperson said: "The expected handover of the £25.9m Our lady and St Patrick’s high School from the contractor is due to take place in October.

"A working group has been set up to ensure the smooth transition of the decant which will be carried out over the October school week."

As a result pupils could be in place at the new state-of-the-art school by late October.

Meanwhile, a Dumbarton ward councillor is calling on the SNP and Independent coalition at West Dunbartonshire Council to safeguard free school bus travel arrangements to the new £25m Our Lady and St Patrick's High School.

Labour councillor David McBride said it would be "unacceptable" if the current arrangements were affected in any way by possible cuts handed down from Holyrood.

There are concerns that when the new multi-million pound school, which is being built on council-owned land in Bellsmyre, is complete, pupils may fall out of the two-mile qualifying distance for free travel.

Pupils at the existing school in Castlehill, who come from the Dumbarton west area, are currently unaffected.

But in theory that could change in the future when the new school becomes operational in Bellsmyre.

Cllr McBride is therefore proposing a motion, to be put before members at the next meeting of West Dunbartonshire Council, that ensures the current arrangements are maintained going forward.

He told The Reporter: "While we await the new fantastic OLSP school I am determined to ensure those pupils who live nearby the current school are not disadvantaged.

"Councils budgets have been cut year in year out by the Scottish Government, I expect they will continue to be cut and savings will be sought.

"One of which is often suggested is a reduction in school transport entitlement.

"This would be unacceptable to my constituents in the West End of the town.

"As a pupil and as a parent who lived in Bellsmyre and enjoyed free transport this arrangement must continue for those pupils travelling the opposite journey."

He added: "When the decision came to build the new school in Bellsmyre the Labour Administration gave a commitment to retain the current free transport.

"I hope the current SNP/Independent majority administration will match this commitment."

Councillor McBride's motion is as follows: "This Council eagerly awaits the opening of the fantastic new OLSP building in Bellsmyre later this year.

"When the new built OLSP opens we will all be proud to note that every secondary pupil in West Dunbartonshire- including those in the new Kilpatrick Secondary- will be taught in a modern fit for purpose school with first class facilities for learning and sport.

"OLSP is an excellent school and its current location in Castlehill has served the community well over many years.

"This Council notes current and past pupils from Bellsmyre have been entitled to free bus travel for all journeys over the qualifying two miles, while the National entitlement for free school transport for secondary pupils is currently three miles.

"Council, therefore, believes that it would be unfair if pupils making the opposite journey from Dumbarton West to Bellsmyre were denied free transport under similar terms.

"Therefore we agree the two-mile qualification for school transport must remain unchanged and not presented as a budget cut in the lifetime of the current elected Council and remains protected until at least May 2022."

The next meeting of the full council is expected to take place on Wednesday, June 28.