FURIOUS parents said they are prepared “to go to jail” to keep the school open where Gregory’s Girl was filmed.
Abronhill High in Cumbernauld has been scheduled for closure by cash-strapped North Lanarkshire Council.
The plans would see 500 pupils having to relocate to Cumbernauld High which is two miles away.
But parents have blasted the move as the woodland route the children would have to walk to get to school has been labelled a “paedophile’s paradise”.
On Saturday around 200 parents took part in a protest against the closure.
Concerned mum Lianne Patton, who son Bradon is in his first year at the troubled secondary school, said: “The area’s known as paedophile’s paradise due to the number of underpasses and remote paths.”
Ms Patton also referred to a previous incident in 2007 where a 16-year-old girl was raped in broad daylight.
Mother-of-two Lee-Ann Downs said: “My boy is not going to Cumbernauld High, I don’t care what happens.
“I’m prepared to go to jail over the issue – I won’t have my son upset like this – it’s all he talks about.
Under the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 parents can be imprisoned or fined £1000 if they have persistently failed to ensure their child attends school.
Cumbernauld MSP Jamie Hepburn said: “I wouldn’t be happy sending my kids on those routes – they are remote and very poor underfoot in parts.”
Outdoor scenes for the 1981 romantic comedy were filmed at Abronhill.
The classic film starred John Gordon Sinclair as Gregory, Dee Hepburn as Dorothy and Clare Grogan as Susan.
The school is planned to close from August 2013, with pupils transferring to Cumbernauld High, which itself may also be replaced at a later date.
It is understood the closure will save the council more than £1m a year while trying to make £73million worth of savings.
A spokesman for North Lanarkshire Council said: “It would be inappropriate to comment while the rationalisation consultation is under way.
“The Abronhill High School – Cumbernauld High School consultation period ends on Tuesday 20 November and written submissions can be made to Learning and Leisure Services at Kildonan Street, Coatbridge or through our website at www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk.”
