New Portobello High School - PPAG Judicial Review

[Porty]

One couldn't make it up.

[Betty Windsor]

[seanie]

The evidence of the usage survey supports the widespread impression that the park is little used by anybody other than dog walkers. You certainly see precious few children in it.

With accessible all-weather pitches we should see far more.

[Porty]

[seanie]

[Porty]

Think the Golf Club has been around for 150 Years but the park is not that old.

[seanie]

And the land was acquired in 1898 so no, it's not 150 years old. You're confusing the golf club with the golf course.

[Porty]

And its much more recently that almost the entire area was sports surface. Id say until the early 80s there were rugby and football pitches. Little or no park.

[Paxetamor]

Sean,it always seems that you don't recognise dog walkers as part of the community that would use a park. It's like saying nobody uses the golf course apart from golfers.
I take it you don't drive past at the weekends during the football season when there are actual youths playing, I know you'll find this hard to believe, FOOTBALL. I did not make this up.

[seanie]

The two accessible all-weather pitches will be able to sustain far more use than the poor quality grass pitches at present, and dog walkers will still be able to walk around the remaining park on improved paths.

[Porty]

[Porty]

Even the ones with poodles?

[Paxetamor]

Have you seen the size of the remaining park! Folk'll get dizzy.

[Porty]

[Chas]

[Bob Jefferson]

[Betty Windsor]

[rmolehusband]

I think the whole "underused park" argument is dangerous and diverting, the loss of any parkland is obviously regrettable. The decision to build on the park is a compromise between the needs of a new school and the loss of parkland amenity - the fact that Porty Park is currently underused may be relevant in balancing the pros and cons, but in fairness any potential amenity should also be taken into account.

The irony in that is that many locals are very happy that it is so underused, comments such as "the private end of the park" and "like taking away my garden" demonstrate just how it is viewed by some PPAG members - as a private garden. Similarly, specific objections were raised against the all weather pitches, not on the basis of loss of parkland, but on the basis of nuisance to the residents of houses on the other side of the road.

Now, fair enough, if you don't want to have a school or an all weather pitch opposite your house you're entitled to that view and entitled to object to the plans, but at least have the decency to say why and don't try to dress it up as some community spirited environmentalism as PPAG do.

Rest assured, in an alternate universe, where there is a better site for the new PHS, and the council are proposing making more use of Porty Park by building a multi use games area, all weather pitches, a mountain bike trail, a play park and a picnic site in the SW corner, that the same NIMBY's will still be objecting with the same sham arguments.


(I fully appreciate that not all people who oppose the building of the new school are either members of PPAG or NIMBYs, but a significant majority are both.)

[Betty Windsor]

[Paxetamor]

[rmolehusband]

[seanie]

[rmolehusband]

[Mark Cameron]

[Paxetamor]

[seanie]

150 years ago the golf club were playing on a golf course, but not where the golf course is now. Because the park where the golf course is now was only acquired in 1898, and before that it was farmland.

[Paxetamor]

Am I missing something? I know that this is a bit off the subject but why would you build a golf club there but go elsewhere( I can't work out where) to actually play golf?

[seanie]

The golf club, as an institution, is over 150 years old. The golf course used to be in what's now the bypass/freightliner area.

The park dates from after 1898.

[Paxetamor]

Thanks for clearing that wee mystery up for me. I don't know if I would have ever figured that out.

[Porty]

We are not an entourage.

Its a bit like Arsenal FC they have been around since 1886 but played at Woolwich, Highbury and more recently Emirates.

Portobello Golf Club played at a course on the other side of the tracks and according to the PPAG historian that land was confiscated by the council in the 1880's so that they could build a freightliner terminal. Bonkers I know.

[Porty]

[Bob Jefferson]

Question. If Lady Dorrian finds in favour of the Council, do PPAG have any further recourse to appeal? Is there a higher court or will this finally be an end to it?

[rmolehusband]

[rmolehusband]

So, anyone know how it went today? Is it yet another rollover or are we now awaiting a decision?

[Porty]

No rollover both QC s did their clients proud.