THE political flak is now starting to fly as formal consultation about the possible closure of Eccles/Leitholm, Burnmouth, Cranshaws and Hutton Primary schools gets underway.

Scottish Borders Council plans to make its school buildings suitable for learning in the 21st century by building new schools where necessary (possibly new high school buildings at Duns and Eyemouth), improving others and closing those that have low pupil numbers or would be too expensive to upgrade.

Their radical approach is welcomed by some but many parents with children at schools under risk of closure are unhappy about the proposals and since a political debate in the Scottish Parliament about Scottish Borders schools earlier this month a political war of words has been on-going.

East Lothian MSP John Home Robertson, who lives in Paxton and whose two sons went to Hutton Primary School and Berwickshire High School, accused Scottish Borders councillors of deliberately running down remote communities and closing village schools.

An accusation taken to heart by SBC's education portfolio holder, Councillor Riddle Dumble, who replied this week: "At best, Mr Home Robertson is being disingenuous about investment in the region's school estate. The fact is, as he knows well, the council has not skimped on its investment in schools.

"The Borders has among the best educational provision in Scotland. The under-investment in the condition of buildings is a reflection of central government's lack of investment over decades.

"In the Borders the total investment requirement in our school estate is more than £140m. That situation is replicated across all local authorities. We are trying to do something about that. The school management review is part of that process. This is a consultation process. "Elected members have a responsibility to their individual wards and the Borders community not to make snap judgements, or play the political games that some national politicians are prone to. As Mr Home Robertson will agree we owe it to every child, parent and council tax payer in the Borders to spend money wisely.

"His comparison of Scottish Borders Council's record on small rural schools to that of East Lothian is a hardly relevant. Scottish Borders Council has 42 schools with under 100 pupils and 20 schools with under 50 pupils - East Lothian has nine schools with less than 100 pupils and just four schools with less than 50. Its other small rural schools were closed many years ago."

In response to this Mr Home Robertson said: "The fact is that seven Berwickshire village schools have been closed during my time in Parliament, and another four are now under threat.

"I made the comparison with my constituency of East Lothian where we have only lost one rural school during that time, and where villages like Humbie, Stenton, Innerwick and East Saltoun have thriving primary schools.

"My point is that rural communities can be sustained if public authorities work with local people to help to provide affordable housing, to encourage businesses, and to support services including schools.

"My sons had the benefit of excellent primary education at Hutton village school, and I make no apologies for expressing concern about the current threats to Hutton Primary and other rural schools in the Borders, in Midlothian and anywhere else."

As part of the formal consultation process public meetings are being held in each of the villages where schools are under threat of closure. The meeting at Cranshaws has already taken place and the three others in Berwickshire are being held over the next month - Eccles/Leitholm (today, Thursday, April 22), Hutton (Thursday, May 6) and Burnmouth (Tuesday, May 11) all starting at 7pm.