A BORDERS school could be “doomed” if concerns over a lack of housing in the area are not addressed, a meeting has heard.

Parents have been told that a decrease in pupil numbers at Broughton Primary School will lead to classes joining together.

It comes in the same week that Borders councillors agreed to mothball Eddleston Primary after the student roll fell to just four.

At Upper Tweed Community Council’s (UTCC) meeting on Monday evening, member Simon Edwards said that there were currently 47 pupils at Broughton, with 16 going up to Peebles High School in August and 10 starting in P1, which brings the roll down to 41.

In addition, each class grouping is taught by two different teachers working on job shares.

“It is a serious thing – without new houses in the area the school is potentially doomed,” said Mr Edwards.

Tweeddale West councillor Eric Small, of the Conservatives, said: “The Borders is crying out for affordable housing.”

But UTCC member Simon Newstead disagreed that building houses was the solution.

Mr Newstead said: “Unless it is social housing we are not necessarily going to increase the number of children.

“Building per se is not just the solution.”

Mr Edwards said: “A letter has been sent to parents advising that P1, P2 and P3 pupils will be taught in one class and P4, P5, P6 and P7 will be taught in another class.”

UTCC treasurer Nick Shapowal said: “The letter from the school is not saying this might happen; it is going to happen.

“The composite class is not entirely to the benefit of the children.Teachers have a good union – parents have not.”

Mr Small said that bringing a newly qualified teacher (NQT) to Broughton “would be a real asset”.

It was suggested that an NQT could be funded by wind farm money but Tweeddale West councillor Viv Thomson, of the SNP, said that that cash could not be used to fund a statutory body.

At Monday’s meeting, Tweeddale West councillor Drummond Begg, of the Liberal Democrats, said: “Once Eddleston ended up with a single class it became untenable.

“Broughton is a long way from Eddleston’s situation.”

It was pointed out that other schools, such as Newlands, at Romanno Bridge, has better after-school provision.

Broughton in Bloom’s June Cook said: “People are sending their children to other schools which provide after-school activities.”