West Dunbartonshire Council education bosses told parents this week that the Scottish Government-backed project had fallen victim to a European Union ruling which affects how Holyrood hands out funds.

As revealed in the Reporter, planning permission for the state-of-the-art three-storey high school was granted in March this year. The development will include two all-weather sports pitches for use by the community, two gyms, a fitness room, and a three-court games hall.

Work had been set to begin at the school’s new Bellsmyre site in summer, with the project due to be completed in time for the 2016/17 academic year.

But in a letter sent out on Monday, Terry Lanagan, the council’s executive director of Education services, said lengthy delays are now ‘inevitable’.

He said: “If the finance issue can be resolved by the start of June 2015 then the earliest date that the new school could be open would be January 2017, although I should stress that, if the issue is not resolved, there is likely to be a further delay beyond that date.” The updated European System of Accounting 2010 – known as ESA10 – is being managed by the Scottish Futures Trust which is in discussion with the Scottish government and the UK government through the Office for National Statistics – whose role it is to decide how all aspects of government spend in the UK are treated in terms of the ESA10.

The council’s education spokeswoman Cllr Michelle McGinty said she was ‘disappointed’ by the setback, but assured parents completion of the project remains a top priority.

She said: “Like most parents of children attending OLSP I am a bit disappointed to learn about the delay in construction work starting but I accept the Scottish Government and the Scottish Futures Trust are doing everything they can to resolve the issue.

“I want to reassure parents, pupils, staff and the wider community that this project remains a top priority for this council. Our officers are working hard behind the scene to ensure that as soon as this issue is resolved between the Scottish and UK Government then work can commence immediately.

“We will keep the community informed of the new start date.” The OLSP project is one of several government funded projects across the country to be affected by the ruling — which the council has stressed is completely outside its control.

A spokeswoman from West Dunbartonshire Council told the Reporter: “This has meant that work could not commence on site as planned in spring and cannot begin until this issue is resolved. We are really disappointed that the new school has been delayed but this is entirely out with the council’s control.

“The council will continue to work with the Scottish government to ensure that work on this important project within our community can begin as soon as possible. We are hopeful that work will begin this summer and will keep the community informed of the new start date.” The set back arrives shortly after West of Scotland MSP Stuart McMillan wrote to the council’s CEO Joyce White calling for an explanation as to why the project had been delayed.

Mr McMillan quoted a previous letter he received in April 2014 that laid out the building plans, which indicated the project would ‘commence construction’ would begin in March.

Mr McMillan said: “It’s quite clear that construction of the new Our Lady and St Patrick’s (OLSP) School has not begun on time and we are witnessing further delays to the project, and ultimately more costs being incurred.

“From the outset this project has been mired in difficulties, such as choosing a suitable site, to demolishing the Bellsmyre flats, to constructing the new school building.

“I’m sure the residents of the area, parents and their school children are just keen for the project to move forward and away from all the issues we’ve seen to date.

“Therefore, I wrote to West Dunbartonshire Council to ascertain when the building of the new school will commence.”