To nan.mcfarlane@south-ayrshire.gov.uk
From: cdbc81 Crawford (cdbc81@hotmail.com)
Sent: 29 September 2010 16:55:37
To: nan.mcfarlane@south-ayrshire.gov.uk
Dear Nan,
Further to our conversation (last email from me of 30.08.2010) regarding the building of a new school to replace Marr on the existing playing fields as opposed to refurbishing the existing buildings, I had been expecting a further reply from you.
Why? This was for two reasons.
Given that you perhaps inadvertently again mislead me regarding the new extension which you had previously stated had not assisted regarding the over-capacity number of pupils attending the school. I found this rather alarming considering you attended the school, were on the Marr Trust (even although you are at present not attending meetings) and are on South Ayrshire Council where any decisions will be made.
"As regards the building built in the late 70s in addition to the facilities you mention I can recall a conservative estimate of 30 additional classrooms which were included (I attended it when the new extension was open) although these may currently be disused because of South Ayrshire Council's neglect of the school. [The new building included classrooms for Modern Languages, Geography, History, Latin, Classics, Art, Woodwork, Technical Drawing, a common room for 6th years, 2 gyms, 1 large games hall, a library, a canteen, etc at that time. English, Sciences, Music, Drama, Home Economics, Computing, Maths stayed in the old building.] Therefore although this may not have been sufficient to meet the over capacity problem it in a large part (if not completely) addressed it."
I hope as a result of this information, and your obvious enthusiasm for finding the best future for future secondary school pupils in Trooin and South Ayrshire, you will have found out that the 1970s extension indeed contains more than the 'library, gym and dining hall' that you mentioned in your email of 30th August and can now disseminate the correct information and argue from a position of knowledge in this respect.
I was also looking forward to a reply on the issue of having pupils on site during refurbishment works. Please see the paragraph below from my email of 27.08.2010.
"I do not understand the problem of having pupils on site during refurbishment works. I quote ‘If the playing fields are not an option the Council will need to decant all the pupils somewhere else as the law dictates we cannot have children being educated on a building site over and above the health and safety issue.’ This is because I stay directly opposite a school in Glasgow which is currently undergoing extensive refurbishment. If the law does indeed dictate that children cannot be educated on the building site then I believe that Glasgow City Council are currently breaking that law."
As I do stay opposite a school with pupils in it in Glasgow I would be very much interested in hearing about this law since Glasgow City Council seem obviously to be breaking it.
I look forward to the outcome of the consultation.
Given my experience of consultations in the past I do not hold out very much hope that the concerted campaign to get South Ayrshire Council to refurbish the original Marr building rather than build a new school on the playing fields will have made a great deal of difference, as I have never before been involved in one which has resulted in any significant difference. This is despite votes taking place at the public meetings indicating that a large majority of local people are for refurbishment that do not appear in the official minutes of those meetings, a petition (that South Ayrshire Council have stated that they will not take any attention of, even despite its 1229 names and counting) and letter/ email writing with reasoned arguments in response to each of the statements arguing for building a new school on the playing fields.
I do hope I am proved wrong and that the refurbishment option is selected.
Regards
Christopher
Christopher Crawford (ex Marr pupil)
81 Meadowpark Street
Flat G2
Dennistoun
GLASGOW
G31 2SH
tel: 0141 554 4079
e: cdbc81@hotmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment