Coatbridge’s MSP has asked for a face-to-face meeting with the Scottish education secretary to discuss the isolation of the town’s college in setting up a Lanarkshire colleges region.

Elaine Smith said she was concerned that a joint statement by Lanarkshire’s colleges on the proposal had excluded Coatbridge College.

Signed by the principals of Cumbernauld, Motherwell and South Lanarkshire Colleges, the joint statement said they would be looking to a future of working closer together but retaining current senior staffing structures.

The principal of Coatbridge College, John Doyle, has since come out saying he would prefer a system where all four colleges are run by one regional management team.

Now, Elaine Smith wants to discuss her concerns with Scottish Education Secretary, Michael Russell.

She said: “I am pleased that the cabinet secretary has agreed to meet with me to discuss the situation in Lanarkshire as it is deeply worrying that Coatbridge College seems to have been excluded from discussions and decisions on the way forward for further education in our region.

“Coatbridge College is an integral part of our local community and plays a particularly important role at this time of high youth unemployment in offering skills and qualifications to our young people.”

Ms Smith also wants to see the four colleges working together to establish a structure which will protect jobs.

She said: “Given the scale of the cuts being imposed on the further education sector by the Scottish Government, new arrangements for Lanarkshire must ensure that the needs of students and frontline staff are protected.

“I am calling for all of the colleges involved in the new structure for Lanarkshire to work together, in consultation with the trade unions and student bodies, to ensure the best outcome to protect jobs and course provision.

“I trust the cabinet secretary can help make this happen.”

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