In the same chamber where hours had been spent debating an application by Gladedale (North East Scotland) Limited for housing at the east end of Forfar, during which fears of contaminated land and the threat to the native pygmy shrew were unearthed, councillors were urged to consider the lack of progress being made on the site and the implications the delay would have on plans to change the catchment area for the nearby Whitehills Primary School.

At their meeting last Thursday, members were asked to approve a formal consultation exercise on a proposal to amend the delineated areas of Whitehills Primary School and Langlands Primary School which would move the Turfbeg and Padanaram areas from the former to the latter from January 1, 2010.

They were also asked to note the director of education would report back on the outcomes of the consultation exercise, and the protection for families living in the affected area with children already enrolled at Whitehills.

This will ensure any family with children currently enrolled in Whitehills Primary School will remain in Whitehills and any younger siblings of these same families will have "Priority Category 1" status to attend Whitehills in the future, should that be the wish of their parents.

This should mean that no family will have to send children to two different schools unless it is the family's wish to do so, or unless one or more of the current enrolments are as a result of parental placing requests.

In recommending the report by Jim Anderson, director of education, committee convener Mr Peter Nield took issue with press reports which suggested Angus Council's education chiefs had "got their sums wrong."

"Nothing could be further from the truth", he stated.

He pointed out the last administration and the previous education committee was well aware that they would have to look at the catchment areas again once the schools in the Forfar and Carnoustie Schools Project were complete, given the contents of the then Angus Local Plan.

At the time housing was earmarked for the west end of Forfar, but the Reporter went against the council's choice and chose instead the Wester Restenneth site at the east end of town.

Indeed, in his report which went before last Thursday's meeting, Mr Anderson referred to the meeting of the development standards committee last September when members approved a residential development comprising 100 dwelling houses on land at Wester Restenneth.

He pointed out that, following changes in the finalised Angus Local Plan Review, the pupil configuration of primary schools in Forfar would be slightly different to that originally anticipated and that it may be necessary to adjust school catchment areas accordingly.

However, Forfar councillor Glennis Middleton attempted to stop the consultation process in its tracks by stating the developer of the Wester Restenneth site had still to meet the Section 75 agreement to allow construction to begin.

She said she appeared to be the only one "out of step" in approving the consultation for the catchment area change as she had some concerns.

"I think this is a wee bit previous given the fact that the Section 75 agreement has not been concluded after eight months."

She said any change in the catchment area would affect a lot of people in Forfar and warned that the reason for the change may not actually exist.

She put forward an ammendment to ask for the consultation to be deferred until the council had confirmation that the development at Wester Restenneth would go ahead.

She was seconded by councillor Iain Gaul who warned that, given the current economic climate, it could be several years before anything happened at the Wester Restenneth site.

However, councillor Nield stressed the local plan for Forfar would apply for several years and, even if housing did not go ahead in the immediate future, it would eventually and school catchments had to be shaped to reflect that.

The committee voted 8-7 for the consultation process, with three abstentions.

The need to look again at the catchment area was outlined by the education director in his report.

He stated that when delineated areas were being considered for Forfar schools, it was anticipated significant tranches of new housing were likely be built within the Langlands Primary School delineated area.

"However, the distribution of housing land in Forfar was dealt with by the Local Plan Public Inquiry in 2006 and arising from the recommendations by the Inquiry Reporter the Angus Local Plan Review as adopted in February 2009 envisages new build development being concentrated within the Whitehills delineated area and very little new build during this Local Plan Review period within the Langlands delineated area.

"A future Angus Local Development Plan will look at the level and location of future housing in Forfar.

"The current P1 year group in Whitehills is above the notional intake limit (67 pupils against a limit of 60).

"Similarly, there are 69 pupils in P7. Other than these two large year groups, the number of pupils enrolling in Whitehills Primary School at present is just within the intake limit, but in future years – as new housing comes on stream – it is likely that demand for primary school places may exceed supply. Accordingly, there is a requirement to review the current delineated areas in order to alleviate any possible future difficulties.

"There is adequate capacity in both Langlands Primary School (projected roll in August 2009 is 358 primary pupils, against a capacity of 444 primary schools) and Strathmore Primary School (projected roll in August 2009 is 291 primary pupils, against a capacity of 444 primary pupils)."