In last week's Southern (letters) Councillor Herd launched an attack on the Liberal Democrats instead of a defence, or at least an explanation, of the fact that not a single new school in Scotland has been commissioned since the Scottish National Party came to power at Holyrood more than a year ago.
As Scottish Border Council's executive member for education, I do not intend to be so complacent about the quality of accommodation in which our children are educated and our teachers expected to teach. Nor am I concerned about whether schools in Ork
ney or Aberdeenshire are worse than those in the Borders, as my priority is renewing and improving schools in our local area.
Quite how wanting to upgrade and replace our school estate is an attack on those working within those schools is incomprehensible.
It is precisely in response to the concerns of education professionals and parents that I am determined to ensure that in the Borders we will have as ambitious a school-build programme as finances will allow.
What we need from the government is clarity and progress on the funding mechanism which will replace PPP (Public Private Partnership) – surely that is not too much to ask for the future of our children and young people?
I would like to correct two statements made by Councillor Herd, which I assume were errors rather than an intent to misinform readers.
I can assure Councillor Herd that the Liberal Democrat group did not close rural schools – it was, in fact, the last Conservative/Independent administration at SBC, including the three councillors whom Mr Herd stated that he has the utmost respect for!
When we were negotiating the terms of our coalition with the Tories and Independents in May 2007, the Lib Dems specifically won a commitment not to close rural schools and for the council to adopt "rural proofing" for all of its policies.
Also the report which detailed the condition of the school estate used criteria agreed by the council, based on guidance from the Scottish Government. If at any time the SNP group at Scottish Borders Council thought that the report or criteria was "flawed", they could have invoked a call-in and had the matter examined. They did not.
Councillor Herd should remember that the SNP is now a party of government, not opposition, and it will be judged on its record.
The SNP had eight years in opposition at Holyrood to work out how it would fund new school buildings and other infrastructure projects, yet they stopped any more PPP projects before providing a workable alternative. So far there has been a lot of talk, but precious little action.
Previously, it was a case of PPP being the only game in town, but now there is no game in town, and it is current and future generations of Borders pupils who are being let down.
Catriona Bhatia
(Liberal Democrat councillor for Tweeddale West and executive member for education)
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