According to the report, Highdykes in particular has been “deteriorating significantly” over recent years, specifically the roof and fire doors. WDC says the roof is “leaky” and the fire doors “ill-fitting”.

In the report to be presented at the Education Committee meeting tomorrow (Wednesday), officers outline that remedial work had been earmarked for summer 2014.

However, the report continues: “The presence in the roof space of roosting bats, a protected species, meant this work could not be started until October 2014, after the end of the rooster season.

“The work required costed a minimum of half-a-million, identified within the capital programme. Because of the presence of asbestos in the roof space and around the fire doors, and because the work could not be carried out over the summer, advice from the architects was that it would be necesseray to decant the pupils and staff from Highdykes to the St Ronan’s Primary building for the duration of the work, a period of at least five months.

“This decant would have added significantly to the overall cost.

“Given these factors and the fact pupil rolls at Highdykes, St Ronan’s and Ladyton Primary Schools have declined significantly in recent years and that profiling of primary school provision in the Bonhill area is required, the project was re-considered by the chief executive and the director of Educational Services and alternative proposals were developed.” The report also states that the new, merged school would have a pupil roll of around 260, and that it has always been accepted that the two schools would merge eventually.