New Schools Proposal - The Wider Issues

[Dave Connelly]

[Dadaist]

[seanie]

[Dave Connelly]

[seanie]

[seanie]

[Poppy]

[Bob Jefferson]

[Dadaist]

[Dadaist]

In Defence Of Portobello Park Action Group

Recently, the local media have carried discussion over whether the recent tactical shift in thinking by pressure group PPAG constitutes an approach which lacks integrity. I don't think it does.

bomb

During the last century, terrorist groups which renounced violence were applauded in the main when they did so. The ANC, IRA and PLO all became political movements (with varying degrees of success) - but save a few militants in their own ranks (and perhaps a few who opposed them and didn't want to give up fighting) they were applauded when they took action which seemed to go against their founding ethos.

viable

So it is with PPAG. By renouncing environmentalism, they have not only answered the difficult initial question posed by POL's famous "Schools" thread but also worked, as Adams and Arafat did, to further their cause.

When the POL "Schools" thread started, a much-asked question was "do you have a viable alternative?" (to the initial council plan). PPAG seem to think they do. Even if, for a variety of technical reasons, it turns out not to fit the criteria of viability, PPAG should be applauded for their thinking, not derided for a perceived "lack of integrity".

Figgate

The internal politics of PPAG will no doubt be tense - there may yet be schisms, bloodletting and perhaps the formation of splinter groups like Real PPAG and perhaps the Figgate Park Action Group. The surviving PPAG leadership who see no error in renouncing environmentalism should not be subject to criticism for an act of political maturity.

[Porty]

[Dadaist]

I don't disagree. The public utterances of an organisation don't, I'm sure, always represent unimaity of thought amongst their members - rather, the reflection of an internal power struggle. This is how foreign analysts have worked out who is and isn't in favour in totalitarian regimes whose only contact with the outside world is propaganda - they pick through it and try and work out who is and isn't mentioned this week.

There may yet be a counter-coup, where the current position of PPAG is denounced as heresy, and the green fingers throttle the nascent windpipe of anti-environmentalism. Such is the daily cut and thrust of local pressure group politics. I would imagine.

[bbbrown]

[Dadaist]

[Porty]

[bbbrown]

[Dadaist]

[Porty]

[Porty]

[Dadaist]

[bbbrown]

[Porty]

[bbbrown]

[seanie]

I have professional knowledge and experience of design and construction, outwith and including the education sector. On the subject of funding I claim no specialist knowledge beyond that of an interested layman.

The Scottish Executive has very high aspirations for schooling as set out in their priorities. But up till now they certainly haven't been in the habit of covering the costs of Local Authority projects on this scale.

However if a package can be put together that does attract Executive funding all well and good. I'd certainly prefer direct public funding.

[Porty]

[bbbrown]

[Porty]

[bbbrown]

In all fairness Porty, the PFANS website is also still actively perpetuating the myth of the third of the park for housing idea.
It is very refreshing to hear Councillor Burns state in public that the council has been listening to the people of the community and that it is definately not the intention of the council to fund the schools through building houses on the golf course. Councillor Jobson backs this up with his positive feedback that money will most likely come from the executive. Lets hope that we can take them at their word.
It seems obvious from what they are saying that they have taken on board the very strong feelings of the Community that housing on the park/Golf Course is not a good idea.

On the political front, I personally find it quite worrying just how the Councillor for Milton could be so out of touch with the views of the community she serves that she thought it the best way to progress the schools in the first place. Also, that the Executive member for finance and sustainability did not realise that funding from the executive would be a possibility. A lot of the "unrest" in the community could have been avoided had the housing issue been less eagerly promoted by local councillors in the first place. I think the electorate may remember this too come the elections.

[Porty]

[Dadaist]

[bbbrown]

[Porty]

[Dadaist]

[bbbrown]

[Porty]