New Portobello High School - PPAG Judicial Review

[seanie]

This is only CLAIM that Seanie is making

No. Is not only CLAIM Seanie is making. Seanie is making heap big many CLAIM. Heap big many logical factual CLAIM. Not like PPAG. PPAG make heap big lying CLAIM.

[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]

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.

Could you remind us of the shortlist of other possible sites?

[seanie]

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

[regent]

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

[seanie]

...

[Bob Jefferson]

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

That's just the latest thread. If you add up the previous ones, there are around six and a half thousand posts on the topic in total. And beyond that there are a few other spin-off threads that this doesn't include.

[rathbone]

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

[Epykat]

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

Both. I got lost in 2008.

[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]

When I saw the above I thought to myself, what reason reason could anyone who has watched or taken part, on either side of the high school issue possibly want to hash over all that again? Then it hit me. With only a few more posts there will be 2000 posts for this thread. Surely that is it! Because everything else has been said with regards to the reasons for/against!

Sorry to repeat what Bob said!

And this is probably the fifth ot sixth thread dedicated to the School and peripheral issues. Must be approaching 10,000 posts! Many of which are PPAG sympathisers contradicting themselves. Many more are where they make things up. If one deploys a strategy of simply fabricating "facts" and simultaneously blithely ignoring the actual facts... the subject is never exhausted.

I'm a bit surprised by kit's contribution at this stage of the game. I genuinely thought there was universal understanding of the issues. I wonder if kit is from the Windsor lineage.

[fresian]

Decision will be made public VERY shortly!!!

[Pal of Porty]

Decision will be made public VERY shortly!!!

A maximum of two more sleeps!

[tufty]

How soon is now?

[seashell]

Decision will be made public VERY shortly!!!

A maximum of two more sleeps!

It's just like Christmas, isn't it?

[seashell]

I'm a bit surprised by kit's contribution at this stage of the game. I genuinely thought there was universal understanding of the issues. I wonder if kit is from the Windsor lineage.

Scion of Betty and Bertie?

[Pal of Porty]

Decision will be made public VERY shortly!!!

A maximum of two more sleeps!

It's just like Christmas, isn't it?

Definitely like Christmas - only one more sleep now (at most).

[Epykat]

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

[Porty]

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

http://www.scotsman.com/edinburgh-eveni ... -1-2518481

[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]

Also, any redistribution could well be temporary.

“The discussions do not directly affect the council’s long-term aspiration to build a new high school in the area. We are still committed to this. Further regeneration will bring more new housing and more families for which a new, modern, fully-functional school will be necessary once the pupil numbers in the area rise to a level that requires it.”

[Betty Windsor]

Also, any redistribution could well be temporary.

“The discussions do not directly affect the council’s long-term aspiration to build a new high school in the area. We are still committed to this. Further regeneration will bring more new housing and more families for which a new, modern, fully-functional school will be necessary once the pupil numbers in the area rise to a level that requires it.”

No details of when of course. Looks like it is well and truly kicked into the long grass.

[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]

I hope that the decision handed down will be accepted by all!

And I hope Hibs win The Scottish Cup this season, but I know in the darkest recess of my heart they won't.

[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.

admin: thread split to New Portobello High School - PPAG win legal appeal.