Labour delivered brand new schools

Dear Editor I write regarding the comments by Bruce Crawford MSP in the Observer article regarding the costs of schools built in the Stirling area using a PublicPrivate Partnership arrangement (Observer, May 18, 2018).

It’s a shame we can’t have a sensible and well informed debate about all aspects (positive and negative) of funding models for building new schools.

A 2016 Stirling Council audit report made crystal clear the fact that of the £14.07million paid by the council in 2015/16, we received around £6million from the Scottish Government towards this. Therefore nearly half of the costs were paid by his own SNP Scottish Government in Edinburgh.

Over the contract period around £200million of the £386million will be paid by his own SNP Government in Edinburgh – such is the strength of their supposed opposition.

This is the same Bruce Crawford who was happy to officially open Raploch Campus in 2008 let’s not forget – or perhaps he wants that plaque taken down?

In 2010 when the service provider for Balfron went into administration the SNP/Tory controlled Stirling Council were prevented from taking the school back in house by … the SNP Government in Edinburgh (of which Mr Crawford was a member and collectively responsible for as a minister).

Therefore the last PFI arrangement here was one of his own making!

This is another matter of public record from which Bruce can run but can’t hide.

The fact remains that Stirling Labour delivered brand new secondary schools including Wallace High, Stirling High, Dunblane High, Balfron High and McLaren High – as well as refurbishing Bannockburn High.

Furthermore the Labour-led council since 2012 built the new St Ninians Primary and Nursery and the new St Margaret’s Primary and Cowie Nursery as well as renovating Cornton Nursery.

Not a single new school was built anywhere in our area from 2008-12 under the SNP.

Councillor Danny Gibson Labour Group Leader Stirling Council