Threatened schools decision delay

Lochs School is among those earmarked for closure

Councillors have put on hold plans to shut seven junior secondary schools in the Western Isles.

The closures - deemed necessary for financial and policy reasons - had previously been deferred pending a report into secondary provision.

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has now decided they will stay open until 2011, or until the Nicolson Institute in Stornoway is ready to take the pupils.

A report by education officials had recommended they close because of cost.

But a full meeting of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar backed an amendment to defer all closures by 18 votes to 11.

It comes in the wake of the Scottish Government's announcement of proposed new legislation which included a presumption against rural closures.

The islands' schools provide S1/S2 level education. They are Paible, North Uist; Daliburgh, South Uist; Lionel, Shawbost, Back, Lochs - officially called Sgoil nan Loch - and Bayble on North Lewis.