Published: Wednesday, 21st November, 2007 10:00
Angry parents want PPP plans scrapped
By Lorna Caitens
Print Article
ACTION: Parents and children at the meeting
Pic by: Stewart Robertson
ANGRY parents have urged controversial proposals to build multi-million-pound superschools in Clydebank to be ditched.
The worried mums and dads of St Andrew’s High pupils fear if the scheme goes ahead it could have a detrimental effect on the future provision of education for their children.
They crammed into St Margaret’s hall on Monday night to quiz three SNP councillors and councillors Jim Bollan and George Black and convince them to vote against PPP.
No councillors from the Labour group showed.
The St Andrew’s HS Parent Network — which organised the meeting — has always maintained that the proposals are flawed.
They say school roll projections used by West Dunbartonshire Council (WDC) are wrong and according to revised figures they could end up with a large, overcrowded school.
Tony Coultas, a member of the group, told parents this was their last chance to “make their voice heard” and put forward their “serious concerns”.
He told the meeting: “The council has completely failed to show how all the areas served by St Andrew’s are going to be better off by building a school in St Columba’s area.
“This deal has not been signed yet and it’s the last chance for people to listen to what we say.”
Concerned mums and dads pushed councillors on issues including the ‘flawed’ school roll projections, what changes preferred bidder BAM PPP would bring to the table and how the high education standard of St Andrew’s could be compomised if a superschoool was built.
They also urged SNP councillors to deliver on their election pledge to ‘dump’ PPP.
Waterfront SNP councillor Jim McElhill — a former St Andrew’s High pupil — said he could not speak for his party colleagues, but insisted that he was “against” PPP.
He said it was only “proper and right” that the full council should hear a report about alternative funding before they make a decision.
Councillor Jim Bollan pledged that if the SNP dropped PPP, along with councillor George Black, he would support their vote for a different scheme to fund schools.
He said: “We need to ditch PPP before we can move forward.”
Parents were urged by the panel to contact every Labour, SNP and Independent councillor in WDC in a bid to stop the PPP contract being approved.
It is anticipated that a decision will be taken before the end of the year.
Del.icio.us
Digg
Facebook
Reddit
Stumbleupon
Pensioner dies in early morning fire