by Charlie » 16 Jan 2012, 22:37
To Bob's request for someone else to join the thread....
I agree with people above... whom I would quote if I knew how to. Never met them (to my knowledge), but think there are a small number of community activists who deserve our praise for their determination to object to stuff... mostly bad stuff (e.g. viridor).
I hear a lot of criticism - feels like some of it is justified - but not a lot of people putting themselves forward as an alternative (thinking PCC here). Feels like some people spend a lot of their time and energy as a cause for good in Portobello - on the whole they're more right than wrong.
On the subject of the school, I have sympathy with the loss of land - you never get it back. But for me, the land in question is a brown field site rather than green field - it's underused, covered in poo and I would not let my kids play there.
When this is over, hope we can all turn our attention to a common goal - the banning of all dogs. If too radical, then the banning of all dog ownership in Porty. (Still too much?) .... then just something, so I can have a pleasant stroll without saying "mind the poo" every 10 steps! Too ranty? Off topic?
Would be nice to have the resources to be a bit more creative about the design and location of the school. But is the current plan more right than wrong? Yes, I think so....
As for delays and disruption to the plan caused by the legal process, think I'm happier that this is being done (i.e. the PPAG challenge is being made) rather than taken as read that the land can be built on. Think this tells me that we have some fantastic activists in portobello who should be applauded for their tenacity. That said, I do hope the challenge is unsuccessful.