Portobello Greenkeepers.org.uk
Portobello Park Action Group
We do not claim to represent the whole of the community, but we do represent the SIGNIFICANT MAJORITY

SAVE PORTY PARK!         IT IS NOT TOO LATE

The campaign to save Portobello Park continues...

In February 2011 the Council gave itself planning permission for a new school to be built on the park, in spite of many valid planning arguments and objections against it. If this goes ahead, it will mean the irreversible loss of 25% of Portobello's parkland. It´s the loss of parkland that PPAG oppose not the provision of a new school.

The Council wants you to believe that the new school is going ahead on the park, without any obstacle. However, they have not obtained permission from the courts to build on Portobello Park, which they agree is Common Good land. The Council's Finance and Resources Committee report of 29 January 2008 states in paragraph 3.12 that:  "Members will be aware that questions regarding the status of Portobello Park were considered in the Report to the Council of 21 December 2006 relating to replacement of Portobello High School. Facts and circumstances indicate that Portobello Park is Common Good . In accordance with the decision of Council, the Council will seek authority of the court at the appropriate time when funding has been identified."

Council cause further delay to new school.

The Council has a legal opinion which states that it does not require the permission of the Court to build on the park. PPAG has a legal opinion which states that they do.

PPAG has offered, on a number of occasions, to go jointly to court with the council to resolve the issue, saving time and money. The Council has declined on each occasion.

PPAG petitioned the Court of Session for judicial review which was due to be heard on 9 December 2011. The Council raised a petition against PPAG thereby forcing the hearing to be delayed into 2012.

Common good land belongs to US, (the people of Edinburgh), not the Council. It should not be used as a cheap development option.

Remember
    ♦    The Park is not the only possible site for the school - it could be rebuilt on site and this is what the council planned to do in 2003.
    ♦    Locating a school on the A1 main arterial route into the city raises a number of Serious traffic and safety issues particularly for vulnerable pedestrians.
    ♦    The council promised to replace the green space that would be lost but broke this promise.
        "It is proposed to change the basis of compensation for the loss of open space to be improvements in quality of the local open space provision." (11 March 2010)
    ♦    The council plans to sell off the current school site, probably for housing. At a full Council meeting on 11 March 2010, the minute states:

        "3.32 Were the original intended approach to be followed there are a limited number of sites on the Children & Families account which could be provided as compensation, the most obvious being the site of the existing Portobello High School. This site is not necessarily in the right location to mitigate the effects of the reduction in open space at Portobello Park. It has recently been valued by City Development (Corporate Property) at £ 3.9m; this is based on a cleared site as the costs for the project to build a new Portobello High School already include an allowance for demolishing the existing school buildings.  If this site was converted to open space the potential capital receipt of £3.9m would be lost to the Council. This is not considered an efficient use of Council assets, particularly given the unprecedented financial difficulties and pressures on capital budgets. " (Although the Council are prepared to spend £200,000 on works on the park before they get the Courts permission to build there)

    ♦    The Golf Course will be lost if the school is built on the Park, housing will be built on the whole area and the school will no longer be in the Park. From the same meeting Appendix 3:

"The proposals to create a network of surfaced paths and accessible green space will enhance public use and establish a framework should a further stage of recreational/landscape improvements be considered for the golf course. At this stage, there are no plans to change the golf course itself or for any development in this area. "

The second green and the eighth tee are both being altered to accommodate the development, less than two years after this ´assurance´. Edinburgh Leisure is considering closure of the golf course (for the second time) as part of their cuts package. Closure would leave the golf course ripe for development.

PLEASE

Support us in keeping green space in Edinburgh - losing Portobello Park means a loss of 25% of our precious parkland.
This campaign is not school versus park - we support a new school for Portobello and believe we can and should have both.
The only way to save this green space now is to challenge the council so if you want to save the Park please support us by donating.

New Council Rules for ALL public parks Click Here to have your say

HOW TO DONATE

To contribute towards the funds, you can pay money directly into the PPAG account (a/c no: 06001267 sort code: 80-18-31). For further information please e-mail: enquiries@portygreenkeepers.org.uk or phone 07580441866 or use the donate button on our Facebook page:

Boxing day Fun Run in the park 26th December 2011 - click here

To find out more about the history of the campaign please see Park Timeline.

Thank you for your support.

Please see our "Latest News Blog " to keep up to date with progress.