Professor Allyson Pollock, head of the Centre for International Public Health Policy at Edinburgh University, said: "This is a phenomenal amount of debt being incurred and stored up, not only for this generation but for future generations too. Others have noted the ways in which we are mortgaging our children's futures.
"The high costs of PFI squeezes expenditure on public services spending. In health, there is very good research evidence of the ways in which PFI drains money from public services and as a result services are cut and closed to pay the PFI charges and profits of the banks and shareholders."
They could ignore the public when it came to consultation but they couldn't when it came to voting for their job.
During last year's public inquiry into the proposed new prison at Low Moss, Scottish Prison Service (SPS) were at pains to stress the urgency of building prisons to meet the rising prisoner population.
So it's a bit surprising now to find that they can manage quite happily for the next two years with one fewer prison. (Bishopbriggs Herald, 28th February)
But then, the SPS would tell us that they're seeking to accommodate twice the number of inmates in a state-of-the-art complex, complete with its own dedicated sports facilities and requiring the flexibility afforded by the utilisation of the whole available site.
So presumably the site has to be cleared before building work can begin, as trying to construct the new prison round the existing buildings would hopelessly compromise the design.
And of course, the SPS would probably consider it unreasonable to expect prisoners to have to live in a building site for two years.
Fair enough, perhaps. Yet it does seem just a bit ironic that the latter approach is exactly the construction methodology being employed by East Dunbartonshire Council to accommodate twice the school role at the new Bishopbriggs Academy, and with exactly the consequences the SPS are avoiding at Low Moss.
And that's before the council sells off part of the school site to the developers.
It wouldn't be good enough for the prisoners (and who would argue the point?) but apparently it's good enough for our school pupils.
However, East Dunbartonshire council leader John Morrison said: "The new Bishopbriggs Academy will have better sports facilities than ever before."
Just found your blog and it's amazing.
I lived in the briggs and went to the High school and found the information here totally awesome!
Why are the parents letting this happen?
The new head and the council are like pals and the school move is a lib dem doing!
If Mr Waddell was in charge then this would not happen - maybe that's why the dumped him!
None are so blind as those that cannot see - selling off land and placing the school on the only land that was left as they use the old Thomas Muir for St Ninian's - are you people stupid?
The council then grant planning with loads of condition! Try to get an extension with one thing wrong and see the difference.
As for the school Board - were they appointed by the council? Looks like it to me. The co-chair works for them - how bad is that?
Great blog keep it up. I now live in the US but love my roots.
I cannot believe how stupid the people of Bishopbriggs are to let this happen under their noses.
Thanks James and power to your elbow.
It seems crazy to sell off school land and then to share a pitch
I am becoming extremely exasperated by the decisions that our Councillors have taken regarding the major changes in Bishopbriggs. Can they do a John Reid and argue that the East Dunbartonshire officers are not fit for purpose or are is it just that our team are consistently picking the wrong option?
© Newsquest 2007
Residents shook their heads in disgust and told some councillors to be 'ashamed of themselves', following the marathon meeting at Tom Johnston House last Wednesday evening.
Councillor Charles Kennedy proposed that a decision be held over for a month to take residents' views into consideration, but his amendment was kicked-out by 16 votes to seven.
Donald MacDonald said, "Setting the meeting up as a public hearing was no more than window dressing from the council to try and appease residents."
"The planning board has approved plans for a school that represent best value for the public purse."
"We have seized a once in a generation opportunity for the young people of East Dunbartonshire. They deserve no less."
Petition:
We the undersigned object to the idea of land being sold on the Thomas Muir Site, while pupils are forced to use nearby school playing fields, there is inadequate drop off facilities and the school may be built too close to the Torr Road houses.
Lots of prime land at the High School site - just no good for a school - if you believe the Lib Dems
All our children are 'shoehorned' into Bishopbriggs High (1300 pupils) the school was built for less than a 1000.
Meanwhile the existing Thomas Muir School, that should have been demolished, is now being used by another school while they have a brand new school built on their 'cleared' site.
The promised sports provision is being 'shoehorned' onto the 'smaller site' plus 'bolted on' from two neighbouring Primary Schools (one across a main road).
The design of the school has to be 'shoehorned' into the only space left while the existing school is being used.
Amazingly, with all this known, the developers still believe there is 'surplus' land to be sold for profit at the Thomas Muir site.
The prime Bishopbriggs High School site will make them millions and Turnbull High will provide even more 'surplus' land to add to the windfall.
