Councillor Maureen Child represents Portobello and Craigmillar Ward for the Labour Group. She has been very involved in the council proposal to rebuild the Portobello High School and has written to The Edinburgh Reporter about this.
As you may know Portobello Community Council voted on Monday 26 August, by a narrow margin, to write in support of the refresh of the planning application for Portobello High School to be built on Portobello Park. This reflects the will of the 76% majority of those local people who voted in support of the Council’s move to take the Portobello Park Private Bill to the Scottish Parliament. The Scottish Parliament Committee sat to consider the matter for the first time yesterday and has three further meetings scheduled before the end of October.
The application the Portobello Community Council was considering is: 13/03200/FUL | Renewal of consent 10/02830/FUL for the erection of the new Portobello High School and associated ancillary buildings, site works, car parking, landscaping, pitches and floodlighting. | Portobello High School 1 Milton Road Edinburgh EH15 3BY. Go to the ‘view planning applications’ on the Council website to get details
This renewal of the planning consent is a live planning application and I have been careful – up until last night – not to comment, as I was assuming I would take part in the decision process. On reflection, I really was kidding myself! And last night, I commented favourably on the Portobello Community Council decision at the Portobello/Craigmillar Neighbourhood Partnership Meeting. In doing so, I felt myself stepping well over the line.
On reflection, it must be abundantly clear to all my friends and family, and many local people well know, that I very strongly support the building of a new Portobello High School on Portobello Park. I have four grandchildren who might well all be lucky enough to go to the new school, which could be open January 2016. I want the school building to be the best we can ever possibly have, as quickly as we can possibly deliver it. There is absolutely no truth in the rumour that the Council has succeeded in its bid for the Baileyfield site. Even if it does succeed, the much preferred option – by a very long margin – remains Portobello Park.
So now, I will take no part in the decision on this particular application when it comes to the Development Management sub-committee of the Planning Committee and will not be in the room when it is being considered by Committee, probably in November.
For me, the good thing is that by sitting this one out I am free – as other Councillors, MPs and MSPs who do not serve on the Planning Committee always are – to forward you the details of how to support the application and back the Bill currently being considered by a Committee of the Scottish Parliament. If you are so minded you might equally take the opportunity to object to the proposals. Whether you are for or against, the deadline for comments to the Head of Planning is 20 September, a week tomorrow. All the details and links are below.
Kind regards
Your support needed for school planning refresh
Supporters of a new high school for the east of Edinburgh are being asked to spare a few moments to back the city council’s application to extend planning permission for the new building.
City of Edinburgh Council’s current planning consent for a new Portobello High School expires on 23 February 2014, and whilst officials believe the Private Bill process can be concluded before then, renewed permission is being sought as a precaution.
Residents, families and business owners are asked to write in support of those plans before the deadline on Friday 20 September.
You can still back the Bill
The committee of MSPs appointed to examine the merits of the City of Edinburgh Council’s private bill are due to hold a series of sessions in September and October.
Evidence will be heard from the promoter (City of Edinburgh Council), legal experts and from those in the community both for and against the proposed legislation.
Council officials have proposed the bill in a bid to resolve the legal issues which have prevented the new school being built at Portobello Park.
You can give your backing to the Bill by signing an Open Letter.
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