Row erupts at plan to ‘abandon’ new high school
Plans to shelve a longanticipated new secondary school in Midlothian have sparked a political row after Labour councillors accused the SNP administration of “abandoning” a community.
A paper presented to Midlothian Councillors last week included the “removal” of the new Gorebridge High School along with other expansion projects at primary schools in a bid to save £80 million in investment from its spending plans.
A decision on the proposed cuts was later put on hold after Labour councillors called for more information to be presented to elected members. Labour accused the SNP of turning its back on the Gorebridge and Newtongrange communities while pointing out another new school, Beeslack Community High School, which includes a £10m swimming pool is going ahead despite soaring costs.
However council leader Kelly Parry described the claims from Labour colleagues as a “desperate attempt” to spread fear and pitch communities against each other. She said: “The SNP have always campaigned for a new Gorebridge High School and will continue to do so.”
Labour councillors condemned the move to remove the Gorebridge school and proposed upgrades to other primary schools following the meeting on Tuesday.
Councillor Kelly Drummond who represents Gorebridge and Newtongrange, accused the SNP administration of attempting to mislead the public following the meeting.
She said: “People in Gorebridge have campaigned for many years for a new high school and were encouraged when, around five years ago, the new school was added to the council’s plans by the previous Labour administration.
“Now their hopes have been dashed by this attempt by the SNP to remove it. The SNP can dress this up as much as it likes, but they are abandoning the people of Gorebridge and Newtongrange if they are successful in scrapping these projects.”
Councillor Parry said: “This is a desperate attempt by the Labour group to spread fear in our communitiess.”