New Portobello High School - PPAG Judicial Review

[Porty]

I think you probably are. And you must be one of the few who consider PPAG a community group . Your getting confused about who is attempting to grab the land."its like confiscating my garden" being one of the recent claims by a park avenue resident.
Do you believe PPAG has had the door closed by Portys churches too? Isnt it weird how these different community groups adopted the same position?

Reality hurts Betty.

[rmolehusband]

[Betty Windsor]

Are PODs sponsors aware that PPAG were refused a table at the "village show"?
I've attached PEDAL's constitution and was particularly interested in no3. I cannot understand how a group with that constitution can be neutral on the subject of the destruction of green space in an underprivllaged area.
One would have expected groups like these along with groups like the Woodcraft folk to be up in arms about the loss of green space. You talk of regret at the loss, but the fact is it is not your loss. You and your children don't use it so you don't see why anyone else should want to. It's far enough away not to concern you.

[Makaveli]

Porty park is pretty much the nearest park to our house and I have never set foot on it as there are much nicer better facilitied (is that a word?) parks in the local area.

Why do you keep saying the area is underprivaliged? It is rather insulting of the people who live there who I am sure do not consider themsleves so.

[Betty Windsor]

[seanie]

PEDAL, POD and now the Woodcraft Folk?

When do you get to the Sunshine Club Gillian?

[Bob Jefferson]

Betty, your attempts to turn this into some sort of class war are quite ridiculous. What about the PPAG supporters in Park Avenue and its environs who send their kids to private schools? The new PHS will benefit ALL of those in the community who choose to educate their children within the state system.

As for this bee you have in your bonnet about something that may or may not have happened last summer, why don't you ask someone from POD to respond to your accusation?

[Betty Windsor]

[Bob Jefferson]

So perhaps it might be instructive to know the content of that letter, which no doubt offered some explanation? My guess is that POD didn't want to court controversy at a community event that was going to be attended by lots of local children and their families. POD is an apolitical group concerned primarily with promoting music and the arts within the community and as such is supported by a wide range of local people with differing views on the school issue. Similarly, I wouldn't expect local shops to display PPAG posters because it would be offensive to many of their customers.

[Bob Jefferson]

[Betty Windsor]

[seanie]

[Bob Jefferson]

[Bob Jefferson]

[Betty Windsor]

[Bob Jefferson]

I'm not suggesting for a moment that PPAG supporters should be excluded. I'm saying that it would be foolhardy of the organisers of a community event, that was bound to attract many local children and their parents, to give PPAG a platform or a means of raising funds. If that was the thinking behind the decision, then it seems eminently sensible to me.

[Betty Windsor]

[Bob Jefferson]

I would exclude BNP as well.

[rathbone]

[Bob Jefferson]

And, come to think of it, I don't think the Village Show needs the Scottish Defence League either. Actually, there are probably quite a few groups that shouldn't get a table. I doubt that POD has a policy per se but probably just treats each request on its own merits.

[seanie]

[Makaveli]

This is hilarious stuff!!!

[Betty Windsor]

[seanie]

I've never tried to silence anybody, and I don't even know how to go about trying. What I have done is put forward the arguments for the school, as consistently and coherently as possible, as well as pointing out flaws in the arguments against. When it comes to the Portobello Park Action Group that inevitably means pointing out inconsistencies, factual errors and outright fabrications.

And clearly I am interested in the rights and wrongs or I wouldn't have spent so much time on the issue. I just happen to think it's the right thing to do.

As to QCs, I have to say the Council's one is pretty impressive too.

[Makaveli]

What is the "school on the park experience"?

It sounds like something they would have at Alton Towers or in NeverLand!!

[Bob Jefferson]

[rmolehusband]

[rmolehusband]

[Bob Jefferson]

[Porty]

PPAGERS have suggested building on the significant majority of portobello's parks. Including the park where the village fair is held. We perhaps should not presume POD'S rejection was related to the school.

[Porty]

[Jamesie]

[Betty Windsor]

[Porty]

[Paxetamor]

Bob wrote

" I see an under-used and little-loved green space being used instead for a new school that is desperately needed and that will benefit thousands of local children for generations to come."


You seem to see what you want to see to make you feel better about the 'sacrifice' that you're making. It is under-used and little-loved by you.

How many generations will benefit? 2 or 3 maybe until it's deemed unfit for purpose and sold. The park has been there for 150 years, we will never get it back.