‘Constructive’ meeting over park ruling

A MEETING between council chiefs and local government minister Derek Mackay to discuss what support the Scottish Government can provide towards building a new Portobello High School on a community park has been described as “very constructive”.

The meeting, which was attended by the city’s education leader Paul Godzik, council leader Andrew Burns and Alasdair Rankin, Edinburgh’s finance leader, took place at the parliament on Tuesday.

The council wants the parliament to pass a Private Act which would allow the school to be built in the park – despite an earlier Court of Session decision which stated that the council did not have the legal right to use part of Portobello Park for the new school.

Councillor Godzik said: “Mr Mackay was receptive to the plans. I think it was a very constructive meeting.”