Hopes are high that a plan to build 18 affordable homes at Corrie will help to save the village primary school.
It was also announced this week that a public meeting will take place on Wednesday, December 12, at 7pm in Corrie and Sannox Village Hall for start a campaign to prevent the school from closing.
In January North Ayrshire Council will begin a consultation process on the school based on figures for falling pupil rolls. Three other schools on the mainland could share the same fate.
On Tuesday, Andy Martin of Isle of Arran Homes said it was hoping to construct a mixture of family homes in the village.
He said: ‘We hope this will do something to save the school and give a lifeline to the village.
‘The developer hopes to apply for planning permission before the end of this year and it will depend on what happens thereafter.
‘We have included this within our housing development plans for the island.’
Wednesday’s meeting has been arranged by Isle of Arran Community Council, which believes the council is basing its proposals on flawed figures.
If given the go-ahead the school, which has 15 pupils and four nursery children, could close at the end of next year and the pupils transferred to Brodick Primary School.
Community council chairman Campbell Laing said: ‘We on Arran are aware that not only is Corrie a great wee school but all the primary schools on Arran are.
‘That is not just the view of parents, pupils and staff, but also the view of HM Inspector of Schools.’
Last week three North Ayrshire Council members visited the island and toured the primary school with Arran’s councillor Margie Currie.
They were William Gibson, a member of the schools review board, Ronnie McNicol and Robert Barr.
