New Portobello High School- Where and how?

by **Bob Jefferson** » 06 Jan 2006, 07:54

It's time to re-ignite the debate:

[quote]PRESS RELEASE
PORTOBELLO HIGH SCHOOL NEEDS A NEW BUILDING

2006 must be the start of a new future for Portobello's children. Portobello High Schoolâ€™s building is in a very poor state and should be the centrepiece of a revival in the town. The High School is currently having new windows fitted for a fraction of its classrooms. The School Board has expressed its concern about the poor state of the school buildings and believes the money would be better spent on plans to replace the entire building.

Dr Andrew Fraser, Chair of the School Board said: "What is more important than the education of our children in Portobello and the surrounding area? What would the people of Portobello want more from the Council than good schools? The High School building has come to the end of its life. The roof and windows leak, the drains donâ€™t work properly, the water and power systems have each shut the school for a day. The school is not designed for modern education. Nothing short of replacement will meet the needs of Portobello's children.

â€œMany parents were Portobello High School pupils themselves and the school is an important reason for people wanting to stay, or move into the area. Portobello must look to the future. Its children are the townâ€™s future, and they deserve a better school system than they have now.

â€œAfter years of lobbying by the Board, the High School has no plans, no prospects for replacement - just patch and mend repairs. That must change and the parents, pupils and community of Portobello should consider any viable proposals that guarantee a bright future for the education of local children.â€

by Ed » 06 Jan 2006, 09:52

Sounds reasonable, a well structured press release.

by **Bob Jefferson** » 10 Jan 2006, 18:10

From today's EN:

by Ed » 11 Jan 2006, 09:48

by Ed » 11 Jan 2006, 09:52

by **Porty** » 22 Jan 2006, 15:10

by **Epykat** » 22 Jan 2006, 18:02

by **Mate of Marya** » 22 Jan 2006, 19:37

by **Bob Jefferson** » 31 Jan 2006, 00:48

What Porty has been alluding to is simply confirmation of what we have expected for some time. The PHS School Board met this evening with Andrew Holmes - the Director of City Development, Rev Ewan Aitken - exec member for Children and Families, Roy Jobson - Director of Education and local councillors to outline the proposal to build a new PHS on the Golf Course site.

All other proposed sites have now been considered and ruled out. This remains, in the Council's view, as the only viable option. A new golf course would be created on green belt land in the Brunstane area, which has been purchased by the Council.

The proposal goes further than just re-locating PHS and takes in St Johns as well, with associated savings through shared sports facilities for example. The whole of the existing site could then be sold for housing value, between Â£10-12M. Housing would also be built on part of the Golf Course site and it is hoped that any shortfall, with a new school now budgeted at Â£30M, would be made up by the Scottish Exec. The site has been defined as the Golf Course plus the Milton Road playing fields. Where this leaves the proposed re-location of the Powerleague facility is not clear though Maureen spoke at tonight's CC meeting of the possibility of some tie-in with the new school's sports provision. Part of the site would remain a public park.

The new Head Teacher, Mrs Peigi McArthur, welcomed this 'hugely exciting proposal' while other board members were at pains to underline the necessity for urgent action to replace a building at the end of its useful life.

A press conference will be held tomorrow, so you can expect coverage in the Evening News. It is being stressed that this is the beginning of a pre-consultation 'conversation' with the local community. It will take another 3 months to work up detailed drawings and to resolve the financial implications of the various land deals.

by **Bob Jefferson** » 31 Jan 2006, 00:55

by **Mate of Marya** » 31 Jan 2006, 02:45

by **Bob Jefferson** » 31 Jan 2006, 08:03

by **Mate of Marya** » 31 Jan 2006, 08:14

by **Porty** » 31 Jan 2006, 10:55

Fantastic news it seems but lets wait and hear what the official position is.

We could have two new schools benefitting tens of thousands of children and households for years to come, additional sports facilities, retain some parkland and get rid of the blot on the landscape that is Portobello High School. Hundeds of households that currently look out at that hideous monstrosity will benefit. Golfers will move up the road a bit. In my book everything is ticketty boo. (with the exception of the possibility of the powerleague participation, which I am firmly against)

There will no doubt be objectors, it would be good if they could come up with some viable alternatives. And by that I mean, location, funding, timescale, on-site sports fields, shared infrastructure and so on.

by **Gemini** » 31 Jan 2006, 15:12

What is wonderful about this proposal? The community have not been consulted on it. A handful of people on this site are for it - this is not representative of the Portobello community as a whole.
I am not saying that Portobello High School does not need rebuilt - what I am stongly against is the Portobello Golf Course, being concreted over for a new school/schools and housing!! Other Schools in Edinburgh
have been re-built insitu! Firhill for example.
Again for the sniff of a quick buck, this labour lead council would sell their grannies eye teeth.

Also I should like to know, who was supposed to be representing the Community at last night's meeting? Where they elected? on whose invitation where they there? and who were they representing, because they were not representative of the majority of the residents in Portobello.

I would also like to know from Cllr Child, where is the secret location
at Brunstane for a new Golf Course?

by **Maria** » 31 Jan 2006, 15:29

The meeting held last night was for the two school boards (St John's and PHS's) Gemini. Cllrs Child and Perry then arrived late at the monthly Portobello Community Council meeting where the news was also announced there.

It was stressed that this was the start of consultation with the community.
If letters go home today to parents of pupils currently at the two schools then it will be the start of a much wider consultation.

I believe that the land for the proposed new golf course cannot be identified until the purchase has been finalised.

by **Gemini** » 31 Jan 2006, 15:49

by **Maria** » 31 Jan 2006, 15:58

by **Porty** » 31 Jan 2006, 16:01

by **Gemini** » 31 Jan 2006, 17:11

Porty - I Thought I already had given more than one - credible alternative?
perhaps you just ovelooked them?

I am surprised that COEC have not carried out a feesability study, to determine whether the current site of both schools, could not be comfortably re-built in situ.

Concreting over PGG is not everyone's idea of a sustainable developement.

I have just learned that there will be a Public Meeting in the Town Hall
re this very topic. Date and times to be arranged.

Marya, I realise and sympathise with your dillema - and that of other
parents. But I am strongly against PGG being used for PHS/ST JOHN's
and whatever else COEC have up their sleeve for this site.

Yet another area of open land - gone - and gone for good,
what will be left by way of open recreational space?

by **Porty** » 31 Jan 2006, 17:24

by **Porty** » 31 Jan 2006, 17:31

by **Maria** » 31 Jan 2006, 17:35

by **dccairns** » 31 Jan 2006, 17:40

by **Porty** » 31 Jan 2006, 18:36

by **Pal of Porty** » 31 Jan 2006, 18:37

by **Epykat** » 31 Jan 2006, 19:39

by **Mate of Marya** » 31 Jan 2006, 20:04

by **Maria** » 31 Jan 2006, 20:22

by **Bob Jefferson** » 31 Jan 2006, 22:23

by **Porty** » 01 Feb 2006, 13:05

by **bellybabe** » 01 Feb 2006, 17:17

by **Porty** » 01 Feb 2006, 17:37

by **bellybabe** » 01 Feb 2006, 18:00

by **Bob Jefferson** » 01 Feb 2006, 18:26

New Portobello High School- Where and how?

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