School closures: 'Let's not get swept away by nimbyism'

Published on Tuesday 9 June 2009 10:06

THE news that the city is to close four more schools is not unexpected but it will still understandably create anger among parents whose children are likely to be affected by the move.

While there is bound to be some local criticism in areas affected there is a need to temper this by not getting swept away by nimbyism but looking at the bigger picture. This is a council which is facing a 92 million black hole in its finances over the next four years and savings need to be found from areas where there is waste.

Two years ago the council announced plans to close 13 primaries, three secondaries and six nurseries. This, it argued, was necessary not only to save money but to take account of falling rolls. In the face of fierce opposition in the end only Westburn, Bonnington and Lismore primaries were shut.

But the arguments for closing further schools are as relevant now as they were then. There are simply not enough pupils to justify keeping all of the schools in the city open. The council claims it has 9,000 surplus places and it would be failing in its duty to spend taxpayers money wisely if it did not look at closing schools which are no longer viable or are not likely in the future to be filled to capacity.

It is now up to the council to argue its case for individual closures. It is a pity that it chose to scrap the parents forum earlier this year, effectively removing the public from the initial vetting process. Doubtless there will be many who will use the consultation process to have their say, but they will have to come up with some compelling arguments to make the council back down again.

Sign of progress?

IT seems an eternity since utility works began in preparation for Edinburgh's tram line, and to the untrained eye there appears to be little evidence of any major progress having been made. It has been painfully slow with some of the work badly behind schedule, but hopefully that will begin to change over the next few days.

The laying of the first section of track on Princes Street later this week will be symbolic.

It is the first time that people will begin to see some tangible proof that trams are actually coming and it certainly beats staring at massive holes in the road

Perhaps that is what is needed to restore some level of public confidence in the project.