New Portobello High School - PPAG Judicial Review

[seanie]

[seanie]

Anyhoo...

Portobello High School is in fairly urgent need of replacement, and in considering how to do that it's always been important to recognise a distinction between what's possible, what's viable, and what's desirable. Of the 15 sites evaluated back in 2006, whilst many may've been theoretically possible sites, most were not remotely viable (mainly for reasons of size, ownership, location and cost) and very few were desirable. The existing site coupled with St John's did go to public consultation, but even combined there were real shortcomings. A replacement school re-built on site would have poorer facilities, compromised by a site that was too small, would be more disruptive to the school given the requirement of an extended decant, and for the same reason would be considerably more expensive. And before anyone complains about it all being down to money, in the real world as opposed to some fantasy alternative, financial considerations are important. The more capital investment in PHS, the less is available for the next school in need (likely to be St John's as things stand).

Now, whilst the chosen site for the new PHS isn't ideal, it's far better, in many, many ways, than the alternatives suggested including the existing site. Some people may, as shorthand, refer to the chosen site as the only 'possible' site but it's not. It's just the only sensible site on a very short shortlist.

[Epykat]

[seanie]

The list from the feasibility exercise, or those taken to consultation?

[regent]

and the next post will be 2000.........

[seanie]

...

[Bob Jefferson]

[rathbone]

Careful now. Remember what happened the last time we started counting posts

[Epykat]

[seanie]

The feasibility study looked at; Bingham Park, the Jewel, the Freightliner terminal, the Scottish Power/Baileyfield site, the Marine bus garage, Meadowbank, St Margaret's House, Cavalry Park, Greenbelt land, the seafront, the Pitz, the existing site, the existing site plus St John's, the golf course and the pitch area.

Only the last three were taken forward in the 2006 consultation.

[Porty]

[fresian]

Decision will be made public VERY shortly!!!

[Pal of Porty]

[tufty]

How soon is now?

[seashell]

[seashell]

[Pal of Porty]

[Epykat]

Just heard on the news that there are proposals to close Castlebrae. Bound to affect the roll numbers at PHS.

[Porty]

[seanie]

Probably not by much if it does go ahead. The PHS capacity is a good bit higher than the catchment numbers and presumably the Castlebrae catchment would be split.

[seanie]

[Betty Windsor]

[seanie]

It was always going to be dependent on the redevelopment around Craigmillar. I think they'd ruled out any new school before 2019.

[fresian]

Just read the same article.... Bet PPAG and PCC are well impressed with that one!!!

[seanie]

Any interest PPAG might have in the issue will be entirely superficial.

I remember the Town Hall meeting back in 2006 about replacing PHS, when a member of the public spoke passionately about there being too few schools in east Edinburgh, and how we needed more, smaller, secondary schools.

This received much applause.

The final contribution to the meeting was a member of the public who spoke passionately about there being too many schools in east Edinburgh, and how we needed fewer, larger, secondary schools.

This received much applause.

From the same people as before.

[regent]

well, things certainly move on a pace! I was trying to fathom why, at this late stage, there would be issues raised again that have been agonisingly debated, disputed, disgorged, dislodged, divulged, disected, dictated, dramatised, disowned, downloaded and dumped. There have been demonstrations, dialogues and diagrams.
Not surprised by the number of posts either!
Therefore I will waste no further time trying to solve the insolvable. There is a massive difference of opinion. I hope that the decision handed down will be accepted by all!

[Franck]

[Bob Jefferson]

Some of us will be toasting victory with Sainsbury's half-price champagne, while for others it will be the sour grapes of wrath. C'est la guerre.

[lg1726]

Sainburys half price champagne sounds good to me!

[Sceptic]

So Castlebrae may be closed down with the pupils spread out between Liberton, Portobello and Holyrood High Schools. They say there is room at these schools, I was always under the impression that PHS, amogst others, was at bursting point. Whatever happened to the "new" Castlebrae to be built as part of the Craigmillar Development? Anyway does anyone know when the decision will be issued today?

[seanie]

The problem with PHS is the poor quality of the accommodation, not that it's over capacity. It's not far off capacity but that's because it takes a lot of out of catchment pupils anyway. Don't know about Liberton but Holyrood should have a fair bit of spare capacity as the new school was oversized to allow an increase.

As for the new Craigmillar High School, I think they got as far as getting planning permission. Then the credit crunch hit and housing redevelopment stalled. Until that picks up again there won't be the funds, or the demand, for the new school. So it's been shelved for now. I think they were projecting 2019 at the earliest, but it'll be dependent on the economy.

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