7/23/2019 Bringing forward a new Castlebrae School - Joint letter from Sheila Gilmore MP and Kezia Dugdale MSP

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Sheila Gilmore MPEdinburgh East Constituency

Kezia Dugdale MSP84 Niddrie Mains Road, Edinburgh. EH16 4DT

sheila.gilmore.mp@parliament.uk0131 661 7522

M1.07, Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh, EH99 1SP

kezia.dugdale.msp@scottish.parliament.uk

0131 348 6894

Cllr Andrew BurnsLeaderCity of Edinburgh CouncilCity ChambersHigh StreetEdinburghEH1 1YJ

Dear Andrew 27th March 2013

Castlebrae Community High School

We are pleased that the Council took the decision it did on Castlebrae on March 14th, andcommend the Capital coalition for demonstrating that consultation was genuinely taking place. Weappreciate however that a great deal of hard work requires to be done.

We are writing to you to ask that, as part of the promised re-energised' RegenerationStrategy for Craigmillar, you take steps to bring forward the building of a new High Schoolfor the area.

We appreciate that full funding has not yet been allocated but would hope that the Council willapproach the Scottish Government to include this project in any programme of capital investmentcoming on stream. The Scottish government recognises that capital investment has a crucial roleto play in rebuilding our economy, and we are sure they will wish to take up all opportunities forinvestment which offer themselves. In December 2012 Sheila suggested the use of the Barnetconsequentials of the Chancellors Autumn Statement for this very purpose. We do not know

whether that money has yet been allocated, but unless we as a city ask we certainly will not get.

One response to this suggestion in December was that this project was not sufficiently shovelready. Leaving aside whether projects proposed by other towns and cities were any more shovelready, this school building project can be made more shovel ready by making an early applicationfor planning permission. The project would be in pole position for any future capital investmentprogramme, even if there is nothing available at present. We therefore urge the Council to moveahead with such application now.

The advantages to the students of Castlebrae, the community of Craigmillar and to the whole cityare several. It is clear that:

1. Bringing forward the prospect of a new school in Craigmillar will stabilise the declining roll,boost the confidence in the existing school encouraging new residents to use the school in

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7/23/2019 Bringing forward a new Castlebrae School - Joint letter from Sheila Gilmore MP and Kezia Dugdale MSP

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the meantime. Crucially, it will also be a great morale boost for staff and pupils allowingthem to progress with the turnaround required.

2. A major construction project would bring jobs to the city in addition to the immenselyvaluable prospect of local apprenticeship opportunities tied to the construction skills taughtat Castlebrae.

3. The boost to the regeneration process which is dearly needed will complete and safeguardthe investment already made in the area. New affordable homes of various tenures are

urgently required in the city and here in the east of the city we have land and opportunityand a thirst for development. The many people currently overcrowded or waiting for smallerhomes, as well as all of those on the list for such housing, need our urgent attention.

Re-energising the Regeneration Process must become more than words.

Finally, we would both like to make clear our willingness to be significantly involved in the work ofthe all-party Commission on Castlebrae, should our input be required at any stage.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Best wishes

Sheila Gilmore MPKezia Dugdale MSP