Liberton High School

A report in relation to Liberton High School was tabled at Thursday’s meeting of the Full Council.

Item 8.7 on the agenda sought approval from Councillors to:

“1.1 Approve the demolition of the existing gym hall at Liberton High School and the provision of a temporary dance studio at a cost of approximately £150,000 to be met from monies set aside to address the resultant issues from the tragedy”

“1.2 Approve that the PE facilities which would be removed as a consequence of the demolition of the existing gym hall will be replaced with the details of the costs and sources of funding to be reported to Council on 21 August 2014. That the report will also consider the provision of an appropriate memorial in the school.”

At the Council Meeting I sought  – and was given – assurances from the Convenor of Children and Families, that the indicative cost of £2.5million for the new gym facilities will be provided for the school over and above any and all monies already allocated to the school for improvements. I thought it was important to have this fact confirmed on record.

A link to the full report on Liberton High School, as agreed at Full Council, can be viewed here:

http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/meetings/meeting/3453/city_of_edinburgh_council

You can watch a webcast of the meeting, including my question on this important topic, here:

http://www.edinburgh.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/139137

 

Edinburgh Conservatives reject Local Development Plan

Edinburgh Conservative Councillors have voted to reject the proposed Local Development Plan (LDP) which contains proposals for the major developments at Broomhills, Gilmerton Station Road, The Drum and others.  In stark contrast, Labour Councillors and SNP Councillors voted en masse to bulldoze through approval of the Local Development Plan at the recent meeting of the Council’s Planning Committee.

Councillor Nick Cook and his colleagues did not and do not believe that what was proposed was in the best interests of our City and that the original premise of the plan was changed so much  by the Scottish Government requirements to allocate additional housing land that the plan should be reworked from first principles. 

It is the Conservative Group’s view that the number of housing units required to be allocated cannot be accommodated in a traditional suburban pattern whilst safeguarding  greenfield and greenbelt land .We are also concerned by the pressure proposed housing is likely to put on local infrastructure.

We recognise that having no Plan at all is not a realistic option. Which is why we put forth clear proposals that a review of the plan should take place. This review would have prioritised development along fixed rail transport corridors to ease the pressure on the road network and give people a real choice about how they travel – which could also have helped address concerns about pollution. 

Additionally, Edinburgh Conservative Councillors formally proposed that the Convenor of Planning, a Labour Councillor, contact Scottish Government Ministers to review the Planning Process, which we believe is undemocratic, cumbersome and confusing, in order to review how effective land supply is determined and also to look at how development can be directed to brownfield sites first. Unfortunately, our suggestions were rejected by Labour and SNP Councillors.

The Local Development Plan will determine the shape of the city until 2032 and Edinburgh Conservatives believed it better to stop and pause rather than pass something that could alter our city negatively. 

Councillor Nick Cook and his colleagues will continue to support local communities across Edinburgh – both in the community and on crucial votes in the City Chambers – on this important issue.

Gilmerton Inch Community Council

A reminder that the next meeting of the above will take place this coming Monday, 23rd June at Gilmerton Library and is open to the public.

Liberton High School Annual Prizegiving

Last night, Liberton High School hosted its annual Prizegiving Ceremony, which I attended. Two special awards were given, named after Jamie Skinner and Keane Wallis-Bennett, both pupils of Liberton who tragically lost their lives recently.

The whole evening was a moving and inspirational example of how the entire school community at Liberton has pulled together in the wake of such tragedy. It was also fantastic to hear that so many senior pupils will now be moving on to take up places at university, college or a modern apprenticeship.

Public Meeting on proposed Green Belt Developments

Gilmerton and Inch Community Council have organised a public meeting about the proposed development on Green Belt land surrounding Edinburgh South East: Broomhills, Gilmerton Station Road, Candlemaker Park and others, which are included in the current draft Local Development Plan.

The meeting takes place on 18th of June 2014 at 6.00pm

The venue is The Hub on Ravenscroft Street, EH17 8QL.

TTRO – Drum Street

Please find for your information details of a proposed temporary traffic regulation order for the following:

 Works : Repair Damaged Iron Work – Scottish Water

Location: Both sides btw 40–50 Drum Street

Date: from 26 Jun 2014 to 26 Jun 2014 

 

Liberton Association AGM – Thursday 5th June

 The Annual General meeting of the Liberton Association will be held in the Liberton Kirk Centre (Anderson Hall) at 8pm on Thursday 5 June 2014 . The meeting will hear a report of the year’s activities. You can also raise any matters of community concern with the Association.

This meeting is also open to non-member residents who live in Liberton who wish to raise concerns and/or join the Association. It is also typically attended by local political representatives.

SportsFest 4

On Friday 20 June Liberton High School are hosting Sport Fest 4, an event to celebrate the outstanding work promoting sport in our community.  At this event the school will be formally opening its  new tennis facilities and mountain bike trail. 

The creation of these facilities was made possible by a £50K grant from the Active Places Commonwealth Games Legacy Fund from Sportscotland, as well as grants from Tennis Scotland, East of Scotland Tennis, Active Schools and the LHSA.  The facilities are for the benefit of all in the community . The event begins at 1.00pm at Liberton High School.