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Ruling clears way for school plan

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Published Date: 18 November 2008
CAMPAIGNERS fighting for a new high school in Portobello today welcomed the Government's endorsement of the consultation into the site for the new building.
The consultation, which was submitted to the Scottish Government in May 2007, identified Portobello Park as the preferred site for the new school.

Opponents of the move to the park argued that the consultation was unfair, however, the independent review carried out by HMIE has concluded that the consultation was lawful, which clears the way for the planning process to start.

Willie Wilson, spokesman for Portobello For A New High School, said: "This is great news for all of us who want to see the school built as soon as possible. This process has taken long enough.

We want to see the council moving quickly to develop detailed plans for the school."





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  • Last Updated: 18 November 2008 10:16 AM
  • Source: Edinburgh Evening News
  • Location: Edinburgh
 
1

seanie,

18/11/2008 12:44:52
Doesn't signify much if the money's not there to build it.
2

Head of Current Affairs,

Portobello 18/11/2008 17:11:33
But it does destroy PPAG's claim that the consultation was not carried out properly and further undermines their attempts to prevent a new school being built on its agreed site on Portobello Park. In fact, the consultation went far beyond what was required by statute.
3

Ghost,

18/11/2008 18:49:43
This is a very misleading report. The path is far from clear as far as the planning process goes. There is the issue of common good land to be resolved first of all, and also the condition that the council find local replacement green space.
The government "endorsement" was a procedural formality, which is why it has never been mentiond before. It changes nothing.
4

Porty Pirate,

The Beach 19/11/2008 11:50:50
Mr Ghost - It changes you saying the Consultation was a sham and a fix.
5

Ghost,

19/11/2008 13:04:47
The consultation was a statutory consultation under the Education Act, and as suchthonly considered educational matters in the decision. What was a sham was that the council paid lip service to widening out the consultation by inviting comments from the public, who responded in no uncertain terms to say they were overwhelmingly against the proposal. The council, of course, did not need to take this into account, as it was an educational consultation. It is this statutory process that the government have signed off, and in its very limited remit, it was ok from an educational perspective - ie it will deliver a school. What was not ok was the consideration of the wider issues, but fortunately these have still to come under further scrutiny through legal and planning processes.

 

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