And with the school's head teacher Ray McBride revealing last Friday that she is leaving her post to take up a new job at St Mary's Primary in Ravenswood, many suspect that the St Francis closure (set for the end of the 2009/10 session) has already been decided.

Billy Lees, treasurer of Westfield Community Council and chairman of Cumbernauld Community Forum, believes everyone who gave their comments - whether they're from the community councils, the HMI inspectorate, down to ordinary people - supports keeping the school open.

He expressed safety concerns about pupils travelling to school. "This is going back 30 years," he said. "I thought nowadays children should be able to walk a short distance from their homes to their schools."

Mr Lees feels NLC has already made its decision. "Whenever they consult with the people they do the opposite," he said.

Head teacher Ray McBride said: "I have enjoyed the support and friendship of parents and guardians, the wonder of working with fantastic children and a fabulous and supportive staff.

"The community of Westfield have been equally supportive to myself and the school. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone for all of their support over the past 12 years. I am looking forward to taking up my new position as head teacher of St Mary's."

Parent Karen Eadie has already written to Gavin Whitefield, highlighting the consultation document's statement that "the convener agreed to meet with a parent deputation from St Francis of Assisi". Mrs Eadie added: "This statement would suggest that discussions at that meeting are included in the report – pretty difficult don't you think when the meeting doesn't take place until Thursday, March 4?

"Am I to understand that the same misleading tactics used in the consultation document will be used for the report?"

Jamie Hepburn MSP said: "It's clear that the overwhelming consensus among community members and representatives is that St Francis of Assisi Primary School should not be closed.

"The decision now falls to the Learning and Leisure Services Committee.
This is made up of democratically elected councillors and they have a responsibility to listen to, reflect, and represent the views of their constituents.

"Closing the school simply to try to save money is not a good enough reason. A number of constructive alternatives have been put forward by parent groups and others, and the council should not simply rush to judgement.

"The council has also said it will provide a response to any allegations of inaccuracies in its consultation document.

"I've raised such concerns on behalf of parents, but the council does not appear to have addressed these at all."

Constituency MSP Cathie Craigie added: "The majority of the responses echo similar concerns; that closing St Francis of Assisi Primary School will be detrimental to the children, parents and staff associated with the school and the Westfield community.

"St Francis of Assisi is a great school with excellent standards; the council should be commending its achievements as an educational centre, not proposing its doors are permanently shut."

Billy Lees also said that he will be attending a private meeting this Thursday at NLC's Motherwell Civic Centre to discuss the school. The meeting is to be attended by all four Cumbernauld North councillors - Bob Chadha, Barry McCulloch, Gordon Murray and Alan O'Brien and Alan Devlin, chairman of Westfield Community Council.