| Myths |
Facts |
| The only way we will get a new school is if its on the park |
The council was planning to rebuild the school on its current site under PPP2 and selected the current site as one of THREE acceptable sites during the 2006 educational consultation. |
| School children perform worse in their exams during a decant |
Research has shown that school children actually perform better in their exams during a decant. |
| All parents support the school being built on the park |
Many parents want a new/improved school but do not want to give up valuable green space to get one. |
| Portobello Park and Golf Course are not common good land |
The whole park IS Common Good land and this has been acknowledged by the council |
| Planning permission will not be a problem |
Building on green space is in contravention of planning guidelines and has been identified as HIGH RISK. |
| The school on the park will be "Visionary" with many extra facilities for the community |
The most recent feasability report commisioned by the council asserts that only the standard provision will be deliverable, in terms of space and cost, and that the provision of extras such as those identified in the PHS "Vision" will have to be balanced by cuts elsewhere. |
| The school on the park would only take up part of the park and would be surrounded by green space |
The school would take up ALL of the park. No public green space would remain once car parking and access roads have been factored in. |
