Hundreds of parents from three Vale schools are expected to march this weekend in opposition to a proposed supercampus.

As revealed in the Reporter, West Dunbartonshire Council (WDC) is proposing to merge three schools – St Mary’s, St Martin’s, and Renton Primary – and move them to a new £17.2 million supercampus.

Last week, an alternative option was put forward in a joint letter from all three parent councils proposing to keep the schools on their current sites.

Parents from St Mary’s protested last week, and will march again this weekend in protest of the proposals – and to highlight their alternative proposal – with a rally leaving Renton Primary school on Saturday morning.

The march is planned to leave Renton Primary at 11am, passing St Martin’s then St Mary’s before heading into Alexandria town centre.

Stephen Storrie, a member of St Martin’s Parent Council, told the Reporter he expected a good turnout for the march – with up to 200 people taking part.

He said: “A lot of people think the decision has been made already, but it hasn’t.

“This is our chance to have our say.

“We’ve got people on the street asking about the alternative proposals, we are just trying to get word out.” He also said: “Losing the schools would be a big loss to the community as well, we think that is important.” He said he hoped many would turn out on Saturday to support the march. Marshalls will be in place to keep people safe as they take part.

Mr Storrie added: “It’s not just about those with kids at the school at the moment, it’s about those whose children will be going to the school or the proposed super campus as well.

“Anyone that feels strongly about it should come along. The more colourful and noisy the march is, the better for us.” The council’s proposals would see St Mary’s, St Martin’s and Renton Primary being replaced with a new campus – on the current St Martin’s/Vale of Leven Academy site.

The alternative proposals from parents at the schools would have Renton and St Martin’s primaries rebuilt on their current sites, and to refurbish St Mary’s.

Jim Bollan, socialist councillor for Leven, told the Reporter he was being contacted daily by people who were opposed to the plans.

He said: “Parents and carers support the alternative proposal being put forward by parents to keep the current locations of the schools with a new build for Renton Primary and St Martin’s, plus a refurbishment for St Mary’s.

“Parents do not believe a huge single campus will increase educational attainment and believe smaller schools with smaller classes will help to achieve this goal.

“Many parents are telling me they believe the council’s main objective with this huge single campus is money, not the educational needs of their children.

“I support the parent’s proposals 100 per cent and would urge the council to listen to what parent’s and carers are saying.

“Come along and support the united campaign by the three parent councils to save our schools.” A spokeswoman for West Dunbartonshire Council said: “The council is proposing to borrow £17.5million under a spend-to-save strategy in order to regenerate the schools estate in Alexandria by locating five educational establishments on one site to create a better and more efficient educational campus. This proposal would create a first-class educational facility, investing in one well-resourced campus as opposed to spreading funding thinly across a larger number of partially empty buildings. It would also generate savings to help repay the borrowing.

“Retaining or rebuilding each school on its current site with the £17.5m borrowing would not save any money and therefore the borrowing costs would be extremely high.

“The council has earmarked £2.775m to improve the existing school buildings should the current proposal not go forward.

“We welcome the views of the parent councils, and all the feedback submitted during the consultation will be included in a report which will be presented to a future meeting of the Educational Services committee.” Consultation started earlier this month and will run until Friday, October 30.

If agreed, all three schools involved would continue to operate in their current locations until the new campus opens in August 2018.