Not one single brick!

For sheer political bravado (if not, outright comedy value) you really must have a look at this News Release from the Scottish Government re-released today - here.

Please note that not one single brick of the promised 35 schools is yet laid and that not one single school will be open before the Holyrood elections in May 2011.

Who would have thought it??

And - I just can't resist the contrast with previous recent years ... I posted only a few weeks ago about this here; but just for completeness, here's the full list of projects actually delivered:


Education Major Capital Projects

New Schools delivered under PPPI and PPP2 projects

12 new primary schools

• Bonaly
• Broomhouse
• Castleview
• Craigour Park
• Craigroyston
• Forthview
• Juniper Green
• Oxgangs
• Pirniehall
• St David’s
• St Joseph’s
• St Peter’s

8 new secondary schools

• Broughton
• Craigmount
• Craigroyston
• Forrester’s
• Gracemount
• HolyRood
• St Augustine’s
• Tynecastle

3 re-furbished secondary schools

• Drummond
• Firrhill
• The Royal High School

1 new joint PE/community facility

• Forrester’s/St Augustine’s

2 new special schools

• Braidburn
• Rowanfield

1 new community centre

• Goodtrees

1 new secure unit

• Howdenhall
  

City of Edinburgh Council Capital Investment Programme Projects

1 new secondary school

• St Thomas of Aquin’s

2 new primary schools (provided by partner PARC)

• Niddrie Mill
• St Francis

4 new special schools

• Gorgie Mills
• Oaklands
• Redhall
• Woodlands

3 new community centres

• Cameron House
• Carrickvale
• Valley Park

1 new early years facility

• Cowgate Under 5’s

3 upgraded primary schools with significant extensions

• Canal View
• Currie
• Pentland

1 new Games Hall

• Currie High School

Extensions at 3 primary schools

• Blackhall (Two storey 8 class extension)
• East Craigs (Single storey 6 class extension and re-configuration of existing
  class spaces
• Flora Stevenson (new Music Unit, Gym and changing, Dining Hall and
  cooking kitchen)

1 upgraded community centre

• Nelson Hall

1 partly upgraded special school

• Kaimes

9 Nursery class units at Primary Schools

• Buckstone
• Canal View
• Clermiston
• Dean Park (now used as primary classrooms)
• East Craigs
• Dalmeny
• Echline
• Flora Stevenson
• Gracemount
• Roseburn

5 new nursery classes/adapting space in primary school footprint

• Craiglockhart
• Ferryhill
• Hillwood
• Lorne
• Tollcross

Now - that is a record to be proud of ... thousands and thousands of lives have been positively affected by these capital programmes.

To be blunt - nobody's life has been positively affected by similar capital programmes since, with the honourable exception of Saughton Skateboard Park ...

... oh - and Colinton Toilets :-((