Plans for a new joint school campus in Neilston have been given the thumbs-up by community leaders – despite concerns in the village.

A public meeting was held last week to discuss options for a potential super campus to be shared by Neilston and St Thomas’ primary schools.

East Renfrewshire Council is drawing up plans for a facility that could be funded by the Scottish Futures Trust, supported by the Scottish Government, if cash becomes available.

The schools have a repairs backlog of more than £2.6 million, and any new campus could also have a new leisure centre and library.

Speaking after the public meeting, Neilston Community Council chairman John Scott said: “I think everybody is keen to see the new schools built.

“The Government may come up with a pot of money for school building and this plan means the council will put itself in a very good position to get some of that funding.

“The condition at St Thomas’ is very poor. There is dry rot in the windows.

“It’s desperately needing a lot of money spent on it or they need to build a new school.

“Neilston Primary is about 50 years old and it’s not in a very good state of repair either.

“Both schools are not fit for modern education.”

Mr Scott claimed he was given a promise Neilston’s current leisure centre and library will remain open until they are moved into a new campus, should that be part of the final plan.

And he said building the new facility on the site of St Thomas’ Primary was his favoured choice.

Mr Scott added: “It will mean that when the children leave the schools they will continue to go to the catchment high schools they do now.

“I was categorically assured the leisure centre and library would remain open in their current forms until such time as they move them across to the new hub. They won’t be closed permanently.

“What they are also planning to do is turn Pig Square into a car park. That may cause some local friction, but I don’t see any way around it.”

A council spokesman said: “This formal education consultation about the potential to create a shared education site in Neilston is the first stage in the process of developing future plans for schools and early learning and childcare, and possibly renewed leisure and library, in the village.

“It is important to be clear that any shared facility would retain the individual identities of both schools and family centre, although may provide some shared facilities.”

The consultation on the potential new joint campus runs until June 26.