Campaigners welcome laws offering rural schools lifeline.

(From Aberdeen Press & Journal)

Byline: tim.pauling

North and north-east campaigners celebrated last night after MSPs unanimously backed legislation making it harder for councils to close schools.

The Schools Consultation Bill will put in place strict requirements that local authorities must follow if they want to close any school -- including a presumption against closure in rural areas.

It will require a mandatory consultation period and for details to be published at the beginning of the process. Opportunities to challenge incomplete or inaccurate information will be included.

For rural schools, councils will have to give …