PORT Glasgow’s delayed community campus will be handed over to the council in time for pupils to move in before Christmas.

Children were originally due to go to the flagship new £44 million Port facility after the October holidays, but it wasn’t finished on time.

Now the contractor will hand over the keys to the council on Monday 2 December.

The campus includes the new Craigmarloch school, which amalgamates Glenburn and Lilybank.

These pupils will move in on Monday 9 December.

Secondary pupils from Port Glasgow and St Stephen’s high schools will start on Thursday 12 December.

The news was broken yesterday to staff, pupils and parents following a meeting of the shared campus working group held on Monday night.

It marks the culmination of many years of planning to bring all the schools together on one site.

The opening date for the campus was welcomed today by both the council and the building contractors.

Council leader Stephen McCabe said: “It gives pupils, staff and parents time to make the necessary arrangements to ensure it goes smoothly, and will allow the schools to get used to their brand new surroundings before the spring term starts after Christmas.

“This is an incredibily exciting time for Port Glasgow, and the new campus will be the crowning achievement of our schools estate programme.” Gary Holmes, regional director of Graham Construction, says the new facility will be one of the best in Scotland.

He said: “The Port Glasgow Community Campus is the standard against which all other schools and education facilities in the country will be measured.

“It has been a privilege to work with Inverclyde Council to deliver such an outstanding resource for the community and provide top educational facilities for its youngsters.”