Comment posted Muirfield Action Group lays bare derelict Angus Council case by A concerned Arbroath resident.
Thank you Sandy with your knowledge for pointing out those figures. I was aware that interest rates were high, but not to that extent. I remember reading the proposed heating saving and being surprised how little it was. It is sad that those who are in favour of a new school have not had these facts explained to them properly. Many parents are totally ignorant of the spending incurred in building a new school, or the cutbacks in teaching staff.
Yes it is hardly surprising that the national debt has reached THREE TRILLION and will be even higher if this over spending continues. It is the tax payer who will have to foot the bill.
Excellent summary by you Sandy. Also loved Dr McKenzie’s concise opening comment.
A concerned Arbroath resident also commented
- It was reported in yesterday’s Angus Courier that the heating system at Angus Council’s new building last week had not been working, describing it as “medieval conditions”, forcing some staff to work in their coats. Some say that it has not been working efficiently for some months, or that the temperature has been lowered. It has now been repaired.
How ironic when there is no fault at Muirfield!!
- Sorry in my haste and in my hatred of the word “demolish”, realised after I had posted the above comment, I had come away with the made up word of “demolitioning”!! It should of course be “demolishing”!! Demolition is the noun and demolish the verb. Sorry!!
- A thousand thanks to Ewan from parents. What an incredible amount of work Ewan has done in compiling such detailed evidence. Here is hoping it is enough for SG to reject the proposal.
Yesterday it was announced that the national debt had reached THREE TRILLION.
New schools where necessary are welcomed, but demolitioning and replacing schools such as Muirfield and Timmergreens is questionable. Many such schools may be adaptable and repairable. Yet there are plans to build even more schools, replacing existing schools, which may only require refurbishment, and some thought into adaptation.
From the above evidence, it would appear it has been made to make the condition of Muirfield and Timmergreens look far worse than they are, in order to merit having a new school approved. Naturally parents are initially going to think “great”, when offered a new school, but when going into the depth of inquiry as Ewan has, it becomes apparent that it will in fact not be beneficial to children’s education. HMIE noted this in their report. Looking at it in even more depth, it could be detrimental, because children may not have the same individual attention, which they enjoy at present. FOI show teaching staff will be cut, and is from where projected savings are expected to come. It is folly because the cost of a new school over a 25 year loan period will cost far more, or at best, break even. This is why Ewan and many others have been so persistent in opposing the new school proposal.
This is without even questioning the road safety aspect, and the dangerous congestion, which would be caused without sufficient parking /drop off points for nursery and primary school children, while heavy articulated lorries and buses would have to swerve to avoid parked cars. Only last week there was yet another accident involving two pedestrians, and that is without the added congestion of a new large school. Safety must come first.
The purse strings need to be tightened, otherwise the country will fall deeper and deeper into debt. Do we want to leave a legacy of debt to our children?
Recent comments by A concerned Arbroath resident
- Arbroath’s Councillor Ewan Smith now Angus Vice Convener of Education
Thanks to Integrity and ARSN for those comments, and all your support through out. Yes it really is like a fairy tale with goodies and baddies. Hopefully, like in all good fairy tales, it remains with the happy ending!I agree, too, with you on the input from Sandy Longmuir and Justin Willey. Tremendous effort from them behind the scenes.
Thanks again.
- Arbroath’s Councillor Ewan Smith now Angus Vice Convener of Education
FANTASTIC NEWS!! Congratulations to Ewan!Sheena is a very experienced councillor, having been on the Angus Education Committee for many years and also was a teacher. Her husband is Andrew Welsh,the popular SNP MP and MSP, who recently retired. Sheena and Ewan together will make an excellent team. Education in Angus is in capable hands.
Ewan deserves this success. Nobody has worked so hard as him to research the school situation in Arbroath. The amount of work he has done has been incredible. He has remained passionate to keep his children’s school open, often fighting against the odds, when most would have given up. If at this time last year, any one had predicted that Ewan would be Vice Convener of Education the following year, they would have thought them mad!! It goes to show that if you strongly believe is something, any thing is possible.
In the process, the former Education Convener, Peter Nield, who insulted both Mike Russell and Ewan with various threats, has had a humiliating defeat with not many votes. We are left wondering where the “silent majority” have gone!
It is quite hilarious that Ewan has ousted him from not only his seat in the local election, but also his convenership.
If Peter Nield begins to talk of “gerrymandering” (He used the wrong terminology in any case) or further threatens to report the Education Minister, Mike Russell, to the Parliamentary Standards Committee, he is going to look even more foolish.
A judicial review ordered by the outgoing administration to try to overturn the Scottish Government’s decision to halt the closure of Muirfield and Timmergreens Primary Schools in Arbroath was set to take place on the day of the elections, but was adjourned until the end of June. With a new administration in place, it is unlikely to go ahead, although is still hanging in the balance. It was estimated it could cost the tax payer at least £40,000.
Hopefully with Sheena and Ewan in charge of education,and a new administration at Angus Council, sense will prevail.
Thank you once again to forArgyll for covering the story so fully. At times of gloom, you gave us hope!
I have been reading your election results and see that you, too, have had a few changes in your council. All your repeated comments about elections come May, have proved correct.
Best wishes to all at forArgyll.
- Arbroath schools campaigner standing for Angus council
Excellent news!! Ewan put an outstanding amount of work into the school project. I cannot think of anyone else who would have put in the same effort and shown such determination. Last year when I heard him speak and showing that he was so knowledgeable having researched the facts on the schools, I thought he had ideal councillor potential.I have a lasting image of ForArgyll’s cartoon impression of Councillor Nield as Mr Burns. I can just see him now saying,”I knew it”! Those of us who know Ewan,are very much aware that he is wishing to become a councillor for all the right reasons.
Here is hoping that the “silent majority” will let their views be known once and for all! You have got my vote,Ewan!
Wishing Ewan all the very best.
- Muirfield: a victory for right
Much better article in The Courier today. This time a story with a happy ending!! A lovely photograph of beaming smiles from Ewan and his son and daughter. Incidentally Karen is not Ewan’s wife!! She is a mother with the same passion against the school proposal as Ewan, who just happens to have the same name!!The photograph is accompanied by words of wisdom by Ewan and Councillor Sheena Welsh.
Ewan also featured on STV news last night. Ewan deserves all the happy stories he can he can get. He has done it for the children and not for political reasons. When you see happy smiling children, that is what makes it all worth while.
- Muirfield: a victory for right
Agree with Integrity. Very disapppointed in The Courier report. It makes Ewan and MAG sound like they have deprived children of the money for the new school, which according to their report, may now go to sea front defences. Many will still believe this money aspect, and there is no mention of the £700K interest per annum, let alone paying back the £8 million, nor the cutbacks in teaching staff.Yes Audit Scotland giving clearance? Where, when? Where are the records?
The Roads Dept definitely did not give clearance and I would question Tayside Police being too happy either without having sufficient parking spaces, or the congestion caused by it.
Cleared by the Procurator Fiscal sevices? Just because there was insufficient evidence to prosecute does not make it permissible.
It talks about Muirfield and Timmergreens schools being not filled to capacity. It does not say many schools have similar capacities, or SG’s aim to reduce class sizes especially in P1 to 18, or SG’s aim to increase Nursery places.
Peter Nield complains that Mike Russell has used delay tactics for political reasons. If it were but known, the school would never have been voted in, but for council members sticking to their political Alliance group and not considering all the facts – which were flawed in any case.
I was looking forward to Neil Logue and Peter Nield being given a slap in the face in the press, but here we go again. It is blame Mike Russell, Scottish Government,Ewan, MAG and any one else who has tried to stop the new school.
I wish The Courier could give Ewan and others, the accolade they deserve as ForArgyll has done, instead of this account.
Once again, a million thanks to ForArgyll for your marvellous well documented articles and your support.
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A forensic demolition by Mr Ewan Smith. An exemplary exercise in how to marshal your arguments then use them to full effect.
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Quite a lot has been said about director of education Neil Logue and Education Committee Convener Peter Nield, but where are all the other Education councilors in this?
It’s as if they are just loitering on the sidelines somewhere with nothing to say, yet they are the elected representatives of the people of Angus (including children).
Are any supportive of or even part of the Action Group?
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Well said! It is high time that we heard from other Councillors. This whole business reflects very badly on the local authority.
Are other Councillors satisfied with the conduct of the Director of Education and Councillor Nield who appear to have no regard for either the reality of the situation or the views of the people who will be most affected by this ‘Council’ proposal.
“Leave no authority existing not responsible to the people.”
Thomas Jefferson
The local authority elections take place in May – we are all waiting and listening.
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Brilliant work Ewan, this must be the final nail in Neil Logue professional coffin. It’s such a shame you have had to devote so much of your personal time and effort into proving this mans dodging dealings for which he has being paid handsomely no doubt.
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The letter makes it absolutely clear that Angus Council have ignored the guidance which they claim to have relied on in their defence of the questions posed by Michael Russell. It is possibly worth adding that the guidance has a practical example (case study) of how the guidance should be implemented. It uses an electrical system which is at the end of its life expectancy which the Council want to replace….
“the wiring, although in satisfactory condition at that time, was noted as reaching the end of its expected life and was likely to deteriorate”.
What grading do you think this receives in the case study? A D? No. a C? No. In fact it is scored a B.
Compare this to the windows in Muirfield…
“As the framework is aluminium the actual condition of the screens and indeed the glazing could be deemed to be satisfactory. However, when comparing the glazing/ curtain-walling with its modern equivalent it would not be practical or economically sensible to upgrade it to a satisfactory standard”
Angus Council downgraded the surveyor’s B to a C while still stating that the current condition “could be deemed satisfactory”.
As the case study shows it is the condition which is important and not the life expectancy or the availability of a more modern design. In the case study the building was rewired and the condition went from a B to an A.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/03/12142801/6
Angus Council have surely now been undone by their own hubris. How on earth can the condition of building the Council effectively voted to demolish not be a “material consideration” in that decision?
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What a phenominal way to crush Angus Council’s new school proposal.
The whole thing is wrong on so many levels the list is endless. As I have said before the work that Ewan has put into this has been incredible and hundreds of parents inc myself are in his debt for fighting on our behalf.
Please Mr Russell let truth and honesty prevail and reject this proposal and if necesary make an example of a council that has had years of practise manipulating facts to get what they want instead of what the people want.
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Surely this time!
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Don’t feel any more need to comment on this article. I think the facts are there in black and white.
The one thing we would like to see is confirmation from the Scottish Government that they have verified our calculations and that they do in fact depict Muirfield as a B, not a C as has been reported by Angus Council in each of the documents used in support of its closure.
On another matter, it seems the road which has caused so much anxiety and controversy in this new school plan – The Westway – is about to get ANOTHER huge retailer on it, B&Q. If this is confirmed then even more traffic will be prevalent on that road.
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A thousand thanks to Ewan from parents. What an incredible amount of work Ewan has done in compiling such detailed evidence. Here is hoping it is enough for SG to reject the proposal.
Yesterday it was announced that the national debt had reached THREE TRILLION.
New schools where necessary are welcomed, but demolitioning and replacing schools such as Muirfield and Timmergreens is questionable. Many such schools may be adaptable and repairable. Yet there are plans to build even more schools, replacing existing schools, which may only require refurbishment, and some thought into adaptation.
From the above evidence, it would appear it has been made to make the condition of Muirfield and Timmergreens look far worse than they are, in order to merit having a new school approved. Naturally parents are initially going to think “great”, when offered a new school, but when going into the depth of inquiry as Ewan has, it becomes apparent that it will in fact not be beneficial to children’s education. HMIE noted this in their report. Looking at it in even more depth, it could be detrimental, because children may not have the same individual attention, which they enjoy at present. FOI show teaching staff will be cut, and is from where projected savings are expected to come. It is folly because the cost of a new school over a 25 year loan period will cost far more, or at best, break even. This is why Ewan and many others have been so persistent in opposing the new school proposal.
This is without even questioning the road safety aspect, and the dangerous congestion, which would be caused without sufficient parking /drop off points for nursery and primary school children, while heavy articulated lorries and buses would have to swerve to avoid parked cars. Only last week there was yet another accident involving two pedestrians, and that is without the added congestion of a new large school. Safety must come first.
The purse strings need to be tightened, otherwise the country will fall deeper and deeper into debt. Do we want to leave a legacy of debt to our children?
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Arbroath resident, most certainly not break even. The annual charge for borrowing the £8 million will be in excess of £700K per annum for at least the next 25 years. The savings from only heating and maintaining one building will be well under £200K. Even maximising class sizes and reducing teacher numbers will result in less than £225K per annum in savings. A net cost of £0.5million per year which must come out of the Council’s revenue budget. That is £0.5million less available to pay wages and maintain services in this time of austerity. More than just the parents and children of Arbroath are going to suffer in order to get this school built. Never mind, in the words of the multiple responder “As long as you call it Nield Primary, Councillor Nield has worked hard to get us this new school.’
In the words of F McClymont above… “Leave no authority existing not responsible to the people.”
Thomas Jefferson
“The local authority elections take place in May – we are all waiting and listening”.
It is to be very much hoped that the electorate do remember who it is that has “worked hard” to get us into this mess.
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Sorry in my haste and in my hatred of the word “demolish”, realised after I had posted the above comment, I had come away with the made up word of “demolitioning”!! It should of course be “demolishing”!! Demolition is the noun and demolish the verb. Sorry!!
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Thank you Sandy with your knowledge for pointing out those figures. I was aware that interest rates were high, but not to that extent. I remember reading the proposed heating saving and being surprised how little it was. It is sad that those who are in favour of a new school have not had these facts explained to them properly. Many parents are totally ignorant of the spending incurred in building a new school, or the cutbacks in teaching staff.
Yes it is hardly surprising that the national debt has reached THREE TRILLION and will be even higher if this over spending continues. It is the tax payer who will have to foot the bill.
Excellent summary by you Sandy. Also loved Dr McKenzie’s concise opening comment.
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Many parents in favour of the new school are still under the illusion that the money for the school is a grant and if it doesn’t go on the school it will be wasted, no idea where they got that from, it couldn’t have been the council cos they don’t tell lies. My eyes may or may not have rolled when typing that last bit.
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It was reported in yesterday’s Angus Courier that the heating system at Angus Council’s new building last week had not been working, describing it as “medieval conditions”, forcing some staff to work in their coats. Some say that it has not been working efficiently for some months, or that the temperature has been lowered. It has now been repaired.
How ironic when there is no fault at Muirfield!!
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hmmm yet they have no problem leaving other children in the same circumstances….
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Hopefully by this time tomorrow evening this flawed process will have been halted dead in its tracks.
Hopefully at the same time our children will have a secure and safe learning environment, that is not being pawed over by people that can’t even add their own ratings of a school correctly!
Hopefully at the same time the potential disgusting waste of tax payers money has been averted.
Looking forward to tomorrow, as surely the fantastic work that has been done will result in the only honest result from the Scottish Government being revealed.
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