No plans to merge schools

Sir, - As the former convener of the children and families service in Dundee, I would like to support the comments of my successor regarding Braeview Academy and Craigie High School.

If the Labour councillors had bothered to check the capital plan they would know that the SNP administration has earmarked money to improve the secondary school estate and that has already been committed to upgrading Braeview and Craigie.

Indeed, one of my last interviews with The Courier before I stood down as convener was to confirm that the money would be spent on both of those schools.

While not wishing to reignite the whole Menzieshill debate, the notion that it was about money was proven to be nonsense and it stretches any councillor’s credibility to rehash proven falsehoods.

Just under a year ago I visited Braeview with Paul Clancy, who has subsequently become the director of the department, and met with the then acting head of Braeview.

We both confirmed to him that we would be looking to either make significant improvements to the school or rebuild on another site.

The head specifically asked us about merger and we both confirmed that was not on the table.

Prior to that I met with the parent council of Craigie High and advised them of the same.

Since then we have spent a significant amount of money on Craigie improving the building based on requests from the parent council.

What is most disappointing about the comments from Councillors Marra and Malone is that the Labour education spokesperson Councillor Georgia Cruickshank knows exactly what the council’s plans for the two schools are as she was kept in the loop when she was the Labour Party’s deputy spokesperson under Laurie Bidwell.

Councillor Stewart Hunter. Dundee City Council.