Liberal-Democrat and SNP councillors are pressing ahead with their plans to close Burdiehouse Primary School - this in spite of a glowing report from the Independent School Inspectors and massive opposition from Burdiehouse and Gracemount parents and our Labour councillors. 

The Council’s consultation document did not even mention the need to relocate Liberton United Boys Club which has 150 young members and has its clubhouse in Gracemount Primary School playground.  The clubhouse is to be demolished to created classrooms if Burdiehouse closes. 

Parents booed the Liberal Democrat  Education Chair – who was the LibDem Parliamentary Candidate in 2005 -  Cllr Marilyne MacLaren when she refused to give answers to their questions.

When the council was run by Labour, schools like Gracemount High School and Fernieside Primary were closed - but they were replaced with brand new state-of-the-art schools.  But the Liberal-Democrat and SNP councillors just want to save money, so they are axing good schools with small pupil rolls.

Across South Edinburgh the SNP Scottish administration refuses to prioritise new school buildings ahead of new roads and other projects.

The previous school building programme was scrapped when the SNP Government took control in May 2007.  Not one new school was commissioned in Scotland by the SNP for two years while in England and Wales, our Labour Government has been accelerating the rebuilding programme.

When Labour controlled our council, we built 17 new schools including 4 for South Edinburgh - Gracemount High School, Craigour Park Primary, Pentland Primary and St Peter’s Primary.  Closing Burdiehouse will end up costing the Council more than it will save!

And what is to happen to the thriving Liberton Boys Club? At Present, the 150 boys are enjoying constructive guidance from dedicated adults. Are they just going to be turfed out on to the streets?