The claim has come from Aitkenbar Primary Parent Council in a letter sent to the Reporter last week.

Last month, we revealed there would be separate public entrances, pupil entrances and staff rooms for Aitkenbar and St Peter’s primaries.

In the letter, the parent council outline their concerns with the plans and their lack of consultation after their initial involvement. It states: “The final vision and plans, shared at our joint meeting by Mr Terry Lanagan, highlighted a shared public reception space, which would be the central hub of the campus, directing visitors to their respective schools. “This was a secure public entrance at the front of the building, and a statement of unity within the Bellsmyre community. Children would enter their respective schools at the rear of the building, lining up at age appropriate entrances to the seven classrooms within each school. “We were advised by Mr Lanagan at this point that there was no funding available to alter the plans, as both St Peters and Aitkenbar parent council requested an additional classroom in order to ‘future proof’ both schools.” However, the Reporter understands the seperate public entrances were subsequently agreed in a private meeting between Mr Lanagan, Joyce White, council chief executive, and representatives from the Archdiocese of Glasgow and the Scottish Catholic Education Service.

The letter goes on to say: “We as the Parent Council of Aitkenbar Primary School strongly object to these changes as we feel multiple public entrances compromise the safety of our children and we believe it to be a backward step in the fight against sectarianism, wholeheartedly supporting Canon Gerry Conroy’s vision of ‘a community benefiting through the positive influence of people of faith living harmoniously together’.

“In our opinion this proposal, would be of no educational benefit to the children of either school and would encourage segregation, rather than integration, between the pupils in shared space areas.” It continues: “This change sends conflicting messages to pupils if they are expected to integrate, but adults are to be kept separate.” The parent council’s concerns have been supported by one Bellsmyre councillor who has been critical of the separate entrance plans from the start.

Councillor Jim Bollan told the Reporter: “I fully agree with the concerns expressed by the parent council of Aitkenbar Primary School regarding major changes to the layout of the new campus — changes which will reinforce segregation along religious lines. “Worryingly, from a democratic and accountability point of view, these changes were agreed by Ms White, chief executive, and Mr Lanagan director of education at a private meeting in Glasgow with the RC Archdiocese. A meeting at which no minute was taken. This is unacceptable and highly unusual. This private meeting lacks transparency and means there is no public record of what was discussed or agreed.

“As a socialist I have constantly warned the part time Labour council of the democratic deficit that comes with giving unelected officers huge delegated powers. This is another example of local parents, staff and pupils being denied access to the decision-making process which should be inclusive, not exclusive.” However, a spokeswoman for West Dunbartonshire Council reiterated the authority’s position on Friday, saying the guidelines set out by the church have to be adhered to.

She added: “The Catholic Church’s protocol on shared campuses requires certain facilities, including entrances and staffrooms, to be provided separately to emphasise the fact that there are two distinct schools sharing the same campus.

“St Peter’s and Aitkenbar primaries work very closely together and the shared campus will enable this strong relationship to grow. The schools will share a number of facilities including playgrounds, sporting facilities, a dining area and an assembly hall.

“The headteachers of both schools have been kept fully informed of the plans and communicate regularly with the parent councils.”