Peeblesshire News | News | Another chance for parents to air views

Friday, 5th December, 2008

Published: Friday, 3rd March, 2006 13:17

Another chance for parents to air views

THE PUBLIC in Peebles remains divided about the proposal to move kingsland to Neidpath grazing.

And a second meeting has been scheduled for parents after last weeks consultation saw the school over-flowing with people.

Leona Bendall spokeswoman for the education department at the Scottish Borders Council told the Peeblesshire News: “This will be an informal meeting which is mainly to give parents a second chance to ask questions.

“They will be able to join in a tour of the school and put their questions to the director of education.

“There were a lot of people at the school last week and it is always hard for everyone to raise their points so the director felt it was important to give people another opportunity.”

Presentations by the Director of education and Chairman of the school board last Thursday were followed by heated debate.

But acting head at Kingsland, Helen Legg urged parents and members of the local community to get on board in support of the proposed move.

She said: “I speak on behalf of all the teachers when I say that we will be devastated if this new building slips through our fingers.

“I respect everyone’s opinions but I came to this school with fresh eyes just seven weeks ago and I feel certain this is not an adequate building in which to educate 350 children

“I have been involved in teaching for 35 years and have never been involved with a project as exciting a this.

“We could have a school that would be the envy of the rest of the Borders.”

The school board also gave their backing to the Neidpath option. Chairman of the school board Pete Collins said: “The majority of parents are in favour of the move and the school board unanimously support the proposal.”

He reported that 53% of parents had said yes to a school at Neidpath Grazings while 30% had said no and 17% were undecided.

But many in the community are still concerned about the risks for children traveling to school at the proposed site as well as the impact the new building would have on the town.

Leona Bendall said: “The meeting showed there are still some concerns about the Neidpath Grazings options particularly issues with traffic, but we think that those things are solvable.”

Parents are invited to go to Kingsland Primary at 5.30pm next Wednesday March 8 for a guided tour around the school, followed by a chance to talk to the director of education about the school move at 6pm.

The final decision about the Neidpath Grazings proposal will be made at a council meeting on April 27.

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