New Portobello High School - Private Bill consultation

[Makaveli]

From todays papers:-

Around £170,000 of public money has been spent defending a legal challenge from a campaign group opposed to a new Portobello High School being built on a community park.

Billy MacIntyre, head of resources for the council’s children and families department, revealed the figure to more than 300 residents at a packed public meeting at Portobello Town Hall when questioned by a member of the audience.

He also said the council had spent in excess of

£2 million to maintain the current Portobello High building over the last three years while the fight over the site rumbles on.

“Having undertaken a survey, we are going to have to spend another significant amount on maintenance and repair work until we can provide the new school,” he said.

[Sceptic]

So roughly £666,000 per annum of OUR money is being spent on maintaining a school building that would have been replaced by now, if not for PPAG. probably, a similar sum will be spent every year we wait on the new school to be completed. That is money that could have been spent on resources to improve education, more teachers, up to date equipment etc. All because some people objected to the school being built on a disused dogs' toilett, sorry, playing field. All PPAG's bluster has come down to hard cash. Expenditure in maintaining an old building, costs on legal representation. If, or more likely, when the new Portobello High School is opened, perhaps we should ask, under FOI, how much addition expenditure has PPAG's actions cost the council and, by proxy, US?

[Makaveli]

Disgusting isn't it?

They can argue the toss about common good land and all that other shite they come out with all the time but at the end of the day it is all about them not wanting it build outside their houses.

This is costing us an absolute fortune and as Sceptic has rightly pointed out this money could be better used elsewhere. They should be ashamed of themselves instead they go on Twitter (and get banned by the site admin!!!) and Facebook and crow on about where they think it should be built instead - which as we all know is anywhere but their front door!!! Selfish in the extreme.

[fresian]

Just have to hope Mouchel are not involved in any school projects in Edinburgh

[Mark Cameron]

Was at the Meadowbank consultation yesterday and am encouraged that the public are engaging in unprecedented numbers and would like to thank the council and Sean, Emma and Rosemary for doing a fantastic job in trying to get the children of the Portobello High catchment the best possible school plus an increased amenity for the rest of the city to boot.

I left raging and sick to my stomach by the continued PPAG line that even if democracy prevails and the significant majority is shown to support the build on the park they will do all they can to bock this as it's their 'democratic right' (something isn't quite right there!)

Their claims that they are worried about kids being knocked down as the traffic on Milton Road will significantly worsen is a joke. Kids are crossing that road every day as it is - perhaps more traffic will actually mean it's moving slower and less of a risk to the kids! But taking their alternative suggestion of a build on Baileyfield (right at the farthest edge of the catchment) surely this will encourage more parents to drive their kids than if the school was situated on the park at the heart of the catchment?. Oh ......and the kids from Magdalene would still have to cross Milton Road and them and others will have the added dangers of negotiating Sir Harry Lauder Road or Portobello High street.

Seriously how many parents with kids at or due to go to a new high school on the park would drive them? I for one wouldn't - mine will be walking or cycling.

[wangi]

And I done another storify of live tweets from Meadowbank last night...

View the story "Porty Park Private Bill consultation at Meadowbank" on Storify

[Sceptic]

Do you get the feeling of deja - vu, when the cry is "No Surrender"?

How do they expect to oppose in Parliament when they do not have, as far as I know, any support?

When building starts, will they blockade the site?

How many times will they be back into court before then?

How much public money will they continue to waste?

[Pal of Porty]

It will be of no consequence to PPAG if there were 100,000 'Yes' votes to only 5 or 6 'No' votes. They are the ultra definition of the word NIMBY and will do everything in their power to prevent the school going on the Park.

[Porty]

I'm genuinely scunnered with Avril Scott and Gillian Dunn . BIOB continue to broadcast lies, defend lies and all for what? Delay the replacement of a school which was 5 years ago identified as being in the worst condition in Edinburgh. Not the ladies fault obviously and they are entitled to oppose the school. As mothers you might think they would stop short of peddling lies to thwart the new school,no. They have embraced, amplified and broadcast those lies. It is very disappointing.

[Sceptic]

The plan to build on the park is nothing new.

According to todays "Scotland on Sunday" it was planned over 60 years ago.

http://www.scotsman.com/news/scottish-n ... -1-2747564

[wangi]

Build our school, make sure you complete the consultation by 31 Jan: http://bit.ly/WDFIYE

[Sceptic]

Got to admit it, it does look good.

[wangi]

Build our school, make sure you complete the consultation by 31 Jan: http://bit.ly/WDFIYE

[wangi]

Lots of hectare figures have been thrown about... But what's a hectare? This graphic should help you visualise the green space within the PHS catchment and what the Council's proposals mean for it. With the new park on the existing PHS site we're talking about a new PHS for less than 1/2 a football pitch of green space (0.5% of the open space)...

(Porty Park 6.4Ha, school 2.6Ha, pitches 1.6Ha, 2.2Ha still park + new 2.2Ha park, loss of public space 0.4 Ha)

Areas in the graphic are: Meadowfield, Portobello Golf Course, Figgate Burn, Jewel, Portobello Park, Bingham Park Joppa Quarry, Baronscourt Park, Rosefield Park, Northfield & Willowbrae Community Centre pitches, Brighton, Abercorn and Straiton + the new park on the existing PHS site. And the beach is NOT included in this open space...

0.4 ha is 0.5% of the accessible open space and Common Good land within the PHS catchment.

[David Robertson]

Thank you for posting that graphic, it puts perspective on the issue and PPAG !

[Makaveli]

Mystery petition? Can't say I have seen it myself wonder what is on it?

http://www.scotsman.com/news/education/ ... -1-2766483

[Sceptic]

Why the surprise? PPAG, from the start have come across a bunch who will distort and twist everything, as long as a PHS will not be built on their doorsteps. It just might not be their intention, but that is how they come across.

[PortySeahawks]

Just noticed the strong responses of support from local politicians to the consultation!

http://www.keziadugdale.com/2013/02/01/ ... -response/

http://www.sheilagilmore.co.uk/portobel ... -the-park/

GET IT BUILT ON THE PARK!

[Mark Cameron]

12000 responses to the consulation. That's astounding!

http://www.scotsman.com/edinburgh-eveni ... -1-2776796

Would PPAG and PFANS be willing to allow an independent auditor to undertake a review of a random sample of Yes and No responses to determine whether the pros and cons were known/understood by the respondent and if not whether there was information available to explain both?

[Makaveli]

Like checking to see if all the students at Edinburgh Uni, the punters at Waitrose.....oh and of course the pensioners that are in sheltered accommodation were FULLY aware of what they were signing?

[Mark Cameron]

Yeah that sort of thing but on both sides of course

[Makaveli]

Seems the people have spoken.......

http://www.scotsman.com/news/portobello ... -1-2826670

Portobello High School: Support for public park site

THE local community around Portobello has voted three to one in favour of building a new Portobello High School on a public park.

Campaigners fighting to see the new school built on the park have been handed a massive boost by the results of the council consultation, with 76 per cent of residents who responded from the area backing the city council’s proposal to take a Private Bill to the Scottish Parliament.

This included residents of the school’s catchment area which includes Newcraighall, Brunstane, Joppa, Willowbrae and Portobello.

Across the city the response to the survey, which attracted more than 12,000 responses, was similarly emphatic, with 70 per cent of valid responses from city residents supporting the call for a Private Bill.

...

http://www.scotsman.com/edinburgh-eveni ... -1-2826931

Leader: Result of Portobello poll is loud and clear

The results of the public poll on the future of Portobello Park are emphatic.

The most important point was always going to be what the local community wanted. A three-to-one vote in favour of building a new high school is as loud and clear an expression of their wishes as anyone could have hoped for.

It would be both honourable and admirable if the save the park protesters were now to accept the building plans as the democratic will of the community in which they live. Given how divisive the issue has become, that seems highly unlikely.

...

[wangi]

And the report to be present to the Council next Thursday: http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/download/me ... ivate_bill

Summary
At its meeting of 22 November 2012 Council noted the intention to introduce a Private Bill to the Scottish Parliament to seek to address the legal impediment which is currently preventing the new Portobello High School being built on Portobello Park and approved the commencement of the necessary consultation and all other necessary actions in connection with the same.

At its meeting of 25 October 2012 Council approved that, if the project to build a new Portobello High School on Portobello Park was ultimately to proceed, the remainder of the existing combined Portobello High School and St John’s RC Primary School site (after making provision for increasing the site allocated for St John’s RC Primary School from 0.67 hectares to 1.3 hectares) would be converted to open space. Council was advised that the consultation exercise would also seek views from the community regarding the most appropriate use of this new open space.

The purpose of this report is to advise the outcome of the consultation process undertaken and to seek approval for the proposed next steps; an update is also provided regarding the bid for the former Scottish Power site at Baileyfield as a fall-back site option.

Recommendations
It is recommended that Council:

• notes the contents of this report;
  
  formally resolves to promote legislation by way of a Private Bill to reclassify Portobello Park as alienable common good land for the purposes of Part VI of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, but only insofar as permitting the appropriation of the Park for the purposes of the Council’s education authority functions. Section 82(2)(a) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 requires that the resolution is passed by a majority of all members of the Council;
  
  delegates authority to the Director of Children and Families to take all steps necessary to complete the process of promoting the Private Bill including the drafting and finalising, and where necessary signing, of all supporting documentation required by the Standing Orders of the Scottish Parliament and the production and signing of any additional documents and the submission of any additional information that may be required by the Bill Committee or the Parliament; including, as required, the attendance of witnesses appearing on the Council’s behalf at any hearings; and the approval of any amendments to the Private Bill;
  
  delegates authority to the Director of Children and Families to take all necessary steps to complete the appropriation of Portobello Park as the site for a new Portobello High School after the Bill receives Royal Assent;
  
  refers the question regarding the most appropriate use of the new area of open space which would be created if the new Portobello High School is built on Portobello Park (and for which provision of £1m has been identified within the project budget) to the Craigentinny & Duddingston Neighbourhood Partnership for further consideration and consultation; and
  
  approves that, on completion, the new area of open space which would be created if the new Portobello High School is built on Portobello Park would be (with the approval of Fields in Trust) designated as a Field in Trust.

[wangi]

Of interest:


(click to enlarge)

[Makaveli]

What's up with the people of Comley Bank?

Have we upset them or do PPAG/BYOB have contacts over there?

[Chas]

One step forward…

[Franck]

What's up with the people of Comley Bank?

Have we upset them or do PPAG/BYOB have contacts over there?

and the new town.

Maybe a reciprocal deal of being mean was offered by the the greenkeepers? comely Bank say no to the school and the greenkeepers say no to the proposed ruby development?

[Bob Jefferson]

The Comely Bank anomaly is purely down to PPAG canvassing in Waitrose. They realised, too late, that their best chance of gaining support was to canvass outwith the catchment area, the further away the better in fact, where people were unlikely to be aware of the facts and were therefore more susceptible to their propaganda.

[Sceptic]

There is a development at Comely Bank that has attracted similar opposition. This may have prejudiced some. However, we have not heard a quote from DC & co yet.

[wangi]

I've produced the maps below to better visualise the consultation responses (green: support; red: do not support) - click on the image to view larger

[David Robertson]

What's up with the people of Comley Bank?

Have we upset them or do PPAG/BYOB have contacts over there?

They do not want ex Porty kids going to posh skools in stockbridge where the NIMBY's kids go!

[David Robertson]

The Comely Bank anomaly is purely down to PPAG canvassing in Waitrose. They realised, too late, that their best chance of gaining support was to canvass outwith the catchment area, the further away the better in fact, where people were unlikely to be aware of the facts and were therefore more susceptible to their propaganda.

I shop regularly at Waitrose in CB and I never saw any PPAG presence there just kids from posh skools misbeahaving and using fruity language.

[Pal of Porty]

70% is brilliant news and a powerful mandate. Very happy.

[Makaveli]

The council have agreed to go forward with a Private Bill for PHS.

[David Robertson]

The council have agreed to go forward with a Private Bill for PHS.

Was that decision ever in doubt ?

Pity about the wastage caused by selfish individuals.


Thread closed; continued at New Portobello High School - Private Bill submitted