New Portobello High School - on going issues

by **seanie** » 05 Oct 2007, 21:32

Think back to the original proposal, a year and a half? Two years ago?

Why did it involve relocating the Golf Course to Brunstane and developing a third of Portobello Park as housing?

To generate capital for the re-bulding of the schools.

As things stand the second wave of PPP is still a few years off being completed and there was no indication of when another round would be sanctioned by the Scottish Exec, or whether alternative financing might become available. The whole point about the original proposal was to make the rebuilding of PHS, at least in large measure, self-financing.

Given that the replacement of PHS was, after Boroughmuir, the most pressing problem in terms of school accomodation, the original proposal at least incorporated a means to finance it.

But since development on the park and relocating the golf-course was unacceptable to the community that possible financing was largely lost and so the Council, whichever political parties were control, would then be pretty much reliant on decisions at Holyrood and Westminster.

It's not an easy circle to square but it's unfortunate that the main political parties, SNP, Labour and Liberal, all seem far happier passing the buck and slagging off each other than actually trying to find a solution.

by **mr magnolia** » 05 Oct 2007, 22:40

I think that you're right Seanie - this is one instance where 'public opinion' has been expressed on a single issue basis (and a negative one at that), and decisions based upon those tend to come home to roost very quickly.

But that may not really bother those that take their ease whacking little balls about the park.

by **Maria** » 06 Oct 2007, 12:40

Today's EN story on the schools issue:

Just tell me where to sign.....

by **Poppy** » 06 Oct 2007, 18:01

by **Maria** » 08 Oct 2007, 12:49

Today's EN article concerns SNP backer Tom Farmer urging action on funding for schools:

by **Bob Jefferson** » 08 Oct 2007, 17:17

Also from today's EN:

by **Maria** » 09 Oct 2007, 13:29

From today's EN :

by **Bob Jefferson** » 11 Oct 2007, 18:47

PHS parents today received a letter from PHS Parent Council, along with a suggested draft letter for parents to send to their local councillors and MSP. Hopefully, the letter will also be distributed to the parents at the catchment primaries.

* Note that a meeting will take place at PHS on Tuesday 30 October at 7pm.

The Parent Council has also written to both the Council and the Scottish Government.

by **Maria** » 12 Oct 2007, 15:55

by **Bob Jefferson** » 13 Oct 2007, 04:41

by **Epykat** » 14 Oct 2007, 20:10

by **Bob Jefferson** » 23 Oct 2007, 17:06

From today's EN:

by **Bob Jefferson** » 27 Oct 2007, 10:43

by **Maria** » 29 Oct 2007, 12:55

by **Epykat** » 31 Oct 2007, 12:07

by **Porty** » 31 Oct 2007, 15:52

by **Maria** » 31 Oct 2007, 16:03

by **Poppy** » 31 Oct 2007, 20:30

I think this mostly applies to primary schools, but it is, I believe, relevant to the "debate":

by **Bob Jefferson** » 31 Oct 2007, 22:50

by **Porty** » 01 Nov 2007, 16:41

by **Bob Jefferson** » 01 Nov 2007, 20:03

by **seanie** » 01 Nov 2007, 22:06

by **Bob Jefferson** » 01 Nov 2007, 22:23

by **Porty** » 02 Nov 2007, 13:09

by **Maria** » 02 Nov 2007, 14:28

I couldn't make it along to the meeting although I'm eager that the community gets a new school asap. I'm very encouraged by Kenny MacAskill's stance on the issue. Well done, also, to those who are keeping the pressure up on the city of Edinburgh Council to honour their commitment to the children of Portobello.

Wonder when St John's will get around to telling parents what they have in store for their children? I know of several parents who will transfer their children to other local primaries if faced with a decant.

by **seanie** » 02 Nov 2007, 18:38

There might be progress on the planning process by the end of January but it's unlikely to be significant. In the absence of a clear understanding of how the school would be procured it would be impossible to embark on a full design process. The means of financing and propcurement have a big impact on the process of design and development. If they're serious about running a parrallel planning process they'd most likely have to go down the route of an outline planning application without significant design development. That would still require a lot of analysis and would be a long process.

by **Bob Jefferson** » 03 Nov 2007, 10:50

by **wangi** » 03 Nov 2007, 22:36

by **Bob Jefferson** » 03 Nov 2007, 23:06

New Portobello High School - on going issues

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