Wish list

Published on 24/12/2012 00:00

WE STILL wish a merry Christmas to all 47 councillors on the City of Edinburgh Council who voted down the Green motion on 13 December calling for a new Castlebrae school now – paid for by Chancellor George Osborne’s windfall.

However, we urge you to think of the 200 pupils at Castle-brae High (built 1976) who will enter the New Year festivities unsure as to what their future holds. They – and we – know that a new school will draw back the 34 per cent of catchment kids that prefer the new school at Holy Rood (built 2009). Our children need reassurance that their school will be here next year and the following year as well, until a new school is built.

The council says it will build a new school in 2020, once there are more kids living here. But you can’t sell family homes today and build the school for their kids in eight years’ time. It won’t work.

This is our last-ditch attempt to get you councillors to listen. We’ll be leaving you alone now. Build a school today. Rebuild a community tomorrow. Help develop 2,600 homes the day after.

You’ve got the design, you’ve got the land, you’ve got outline planning permission, you’ve got 200 ready and waiting pupils. Send the brief out to tender today.

Tell John Swinney you want to add Craigmillar’s new school to the list you’ve given him that had the Ross Bandstand at the top. Tell us you’ll make this your New Year’s resolution.

Kev Finlay

Chairman, Save the Brae