Comments on: Amalgamation http://bucksburn.info/2008/09/amalgamation/ Representing the views of Bucksburn parents since 2007 Thu, 02 Sep 2010 19:34:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Billy http://bucksburn.info/2008/09/amalgamation/comment-page-1/#comment-196 Billy Tue, 17 Feb 2009 17:47:41 +0000 http://bucksburn.the-kid.org/?p=34#comment-196 I've moved Mark's responses to Angela's PSA question to <a href="http://bucksburn.info/2009/02/17/bucksburn-set-to-lose-out-in-pupil-support-assistant-cuts#comments" rel="nofollow">this thread</a> which is the new post relating to these PSA cuts. I feel this is the direction in which this thread is moving and is therefore better placed in that post. Thanks I’ve moved Mark’s responses to Angela’s PSA question to this thread which is the new post relating to these PSA cuts. I feel this is the direction in which this thread is moving and is therefore better placed in that post.

Thanks

]]> By: Ang Joss http://bucksburn.info/2008/09/amalgamation/comment-page-1/#comment-192 Ang Joss Tue, 17 Feb 2009 13:46:59 +0000 http://bucksburn.the-kid.org/?p=34#comment-192 Just logged on with my funky new password - grey box should follow ! Whilst I continue to take Billy's point about freedom of speech and my own about having no more to say on this subject of a political nature, it strikes me there's a couple of points need correcting here. Firstly, Mr McDonald, your smiley face icon was NOT, as you claim, part "of what (you) saw as a civilized discussion between Billy and (your)self". It actually forms part of the various debates and information on Bucksburn Parent Council Website, accessible to all and read by many parents - who may choose not to post - in these distressing and trying times for our school. I think you should have taken a little more care how you embellished your words 48 hours after our whole school, staff, children and parents received a very sore blow. Cartoony smiles on our website ain't making this Mum smile. Secondly, I was careful to make my comments on local democracy indicative of a broad, personal view, garnered from 24 years as a voting citizen. If you took that to be aimed at you, then perhaps (and obviously) you have much more insight into your long-term political aspirations than I have. Thirdly, I will not be running an anti-Mark campaign. I WILL be reminding local voters of the kind of cuts that you - and some of your fellow ward councillors - voted through, and the consequences that has had for our area. Fourthly, I'd like your help with avoiding the swingeing cuts to PSA hours which will have an impact on ALL children across Aberdeen City. Just logged on with my funky new password – grey box should follow ! Whilst I continue to take Billy’s point about freedom of speech and my own about having no more to say on this subject of a political nature, it strikes me there’s a couple of points need correcting here. Firstly, Mr McDonald, your smiley face icon was NOT, as you claim, part “of what (you) saw as a civilized discussion between Billy and (your)self”. It actually forms part of the various debates and information on Bucksburn Parent Council Website, accessible to all and read by many parents – who may choose not to post – in these distressing and trying times for our school. I think you should have taken a little more care how you embellished your words 48 hours after our whole school, staff, children and parents received a very sore blow. Cartoony smiles on our website ain’t making this Mum smile.
Secondly, I was careful to make my comments on local democracy indicative of a broad, personal view, garnered from 24 years as a voting citizen. If you took that to be aimed at you, then perhaps (and obviously) you have much more insight into your long-term political aspirations than I have.
Thirdly, I will not be running an anti-Mark campaign. I WILL be reminding local voters of the kind of cuts that you – and some of your fellow ward councillors – voted through, and the consequences that has had for our area.
Fourthly, I’d like your help with avoiding the swingeing cuts to PSA hours which will have an impact on ALL children across Aberdeen City.

]]> By: Mark McDonald http://bucksburn.info/2008/09/amalgamation/comment-page-1/#comment-191 Mark McDonald Mon, 16 Feb 2009 23:36:54 +0000 http://bucksburn.the-kid.org/?p=34#comment-191 Oh, also (or should that be P.P.P.P.S?!?) my apologies over the CCTV, I clearly misinterpreted the email I received from officials way back when. I will email the community safety manager again and will copy you in Billy. Oh, also (or should that be P.P.P.P.S?!?) my apologies over the CCTV, I clearly misinterpreted the email I received from officials way back when.

I will email the community safety manager again and will copy you in Billy.

]]> By: Mark McDonald http://bucksburn.info/2008/09/amalgamation/comment-page-1/#comment-190 Mark McDonald Mon, 16 Feb 2009 22:38:03 +0000 http://bucksburn.the-kid.org/?p=34#comment-190 Thanks Billy I am glad you are still willing to work with me on issues, and let there be no doubt I am still willing to work with you, and any other parent from Bucksburn or Newhills who requests my assistance. P.S - it was Glasgow East, not Govan. P.P.S - it was during the summer recess P.P.P.S - I dealt with a load of casework via the Blackberry so was still accessible to all! Thanks Billy

I am glad you are still willing to work with me on issues, and let there be no doubt I am still willing to work with you, and any other parent from Bucksburn or Newhills who requests my assistance.

P.S – it was Glasgow East, not Govan.

P.P.S – it was during the summer recess

P.P.P.S – I dealt with a load of casework via the Blackberry so was still accessible to all!

]]> By: Billy http://bucksburn.info/2008/09/amalgamation/comment-page-1/#comment-189 Billy Mon, 16 Feb 2009 21:41:56 +0000 http://bucksburn.the-kid.org/?p=34#comment-189 <blockquote>I think the fact I make myself accessible to my electorate, up to the point of posting on messageboards, sets me apart from many councillors, but if it is going to lead to the response it has done here, perhaps I would be better taking a step back.</blockquote> Yeah I agree, I'm unsure to whether cllrs Penney and Clark actually exist at all! Don't stop posting on the boards, it's a redeeming feature! It's good that discussion can occur in the open like this and you're not going to make me believe that as a public figure AND a politician you're going to be too affected by it! hehe. Back on track in respect of the building the council are going to put up here, it's not an investment as the cost far outweighs the benefit of decent heating. If you genuinely cannot understand why we would rather have the B listed building then I'm not sure what else we can do! The reasons have been beaten to death! We all want the kids to have the best education and it was precisely this that led our fight to keep the schools we have. The CCTV hasn't been secured yet, it was said to "see in the new year" iirc but yes, I agree with you're point that until now I've had no reason to doubt you as our representative. This is possibly what made this all the more devastating that I just didn't see it coming! I've not suggested you brought party politics into the speech either, I had to duck out before I heard the full debate. I was making general points about the SNP party as it stands in Aberdeen. This isn't necessarily a new thing or a thing peculiar to one party as I've long been dismissive of the party political system. It's about time that issue came before party, in the words of Margaret Thatcher, I don't think that'll ever happen in my lifetime. I also await the Angela's campaign with interest! I think it was probably me who started the insinuation of your future career path, I don't see how campaigning in Govan helps us in Bucksburn ;-P I am sure the parent council DOES know where you are and can contact you and vice-versa. Just because there was a disagreement on this issue(ok it's a biggie!) doesn't mean that you are now dis-missed from our community! lol You're still our representative on issues and I for one look forward to (re-)building the working relationship. Billy

I think the fact I make myself accessible to my electorate, up to the point of posting on messageboards, sets me apart from many councillors, but if it is going to lead to the response it has done here, perhaps I would be better taking a step back.

Yeah I agree, I’m unsure to whether cllrs Penney and Clark actually exist at all! Don’t stop posting on the boards, it’s a redeeming feature! It’s good that discussion can occur in the open like this and you’re not going to make me believe that as a public figure AND a politician you’re going to be too affected by it! hehe.

Back on track in respect of the building the council are going to put up here, it’s not an investment as the cost far outweighs the benefit of decent heating. If you genuinely cannot understand why we would rather have the B listed building then I’m not sure what else we can do! The reasons have been beaten to death!

We all want the kids to have the best education and it was precisely this that led our fight to keep the schools we have.

The CCTV hasn’t been secured yet, it was said to “see in the new year” iirc but yes, I agree with you’re point that until now I’ve had no reason to doubt you as our representative. This is possibly what made this all the more devastating that I just didn’t see it coming! I’ve not suggested you brought party politics into the speech either, I had to duck out before I heard the full debate. I was making general points about the SNP party as it stands in Aberdeen. This isn’t necessarily a new thing or a thing peculiar to one party as I’ve long been dismissive of the party political system. It’s about time that issue came before party, in the words of Margaret Thatcher, I don’t think that’ll ever happen in my lifetime.

I also await the Angela’s campaign with interest!

I think it was probably me who started the insinuation of your future career path, I don’t see how campaigning in Govan helps us in Bucksburn ;-P

I am sure the parent council DOES know where you are and can contact you and vice-versa. Just because there was a disagreement on this issue(ok it’s a biggie!) doesn’t mean that you are now dis-missed from our community! lol You’re still our representative on issues and I for one look forward to (re-)building the working relationship.

Billy

]]> By: Mark McDonald http://bucksburn.info/2008/09/amalgamation/comment-page-1/#comment-186 Mark McDonald Mon, 16 Feb 2009 15:54:32 +0000 http://bucksburn.the-kid.org/?p=34#comment-186 The "smiley face" icon was simply part of internet conversational etiquette and was aimed at being part of what I saw as a civilised discussion between Billy and myself. I sincerely apologise if it is seen as me somehow "revelling" in the aftermath of the decision to close the schools. That was not my intention. I think the fact I make myself accessible to my electorate, up to the point of posting on messageboards, sets me apart from many councillors, but if it is going to lead to the response it has done here, perhaps I would be better taking a step back. Either way, some people will reflect on the work I have done since the election including securing extra CCTV for Bucksburn, and putting funding toward the restoration of the Newhills Garden, post-vandalism, and will see that I have had no axe to grind with either school, I did not introduce party politics into my speech at the Council, contrary to what is being suggested above. I spoke about aspiration, and I cannot understand why some folk are saying they would be happy to have their kids educated in a B-Grade building, which would last only another ten years. I want all children in Aberdeen educated in the best possible environment, and that in the case of Bucksburn meant the new school. People talk about Bucksburn being a victim of cuts, but this will be a multi-million pound investment into the area. Finally, in terms of aspiration, I resent the implication that I am simply using this position as a stepping stone to bigger things, I stood in 2007 as someone who had grown up in the area which I now represent, I have set myself no career path in politics, and would not seek to insult my constituents by implying that I am only in this to go somewhere else. Oh, and as one of the 100 or so people who gave Angela a first or second preference vote, I am saddened that she did not get elected alongside me, I am sure when she runs her anti-Mark McDonald campaign in 2012 we will have an interesting time on the stump. I shall leave this now, because as Angela says, this is the website for the Parent Council, and I am sure if the Parent Council decides at some stage that they wish to contact me, they will know where to find me. Mark The “smiley face” icon was simply part of internet conversational etiquette and was aimed at being part of what I saw as a civilised discussion between Billy and myself.

I sincerely apologise if it is seen as me somehow “revelling” in the aftermath of the decision to close the schools. That was not my intention.

I think the fact I make myself accessible to my electorate, up to the point of posting on messageboards, sets me apart from many councillors, but if it is going to lead to the response it has done here, perhaps I would be better taking a step back.

Either way, some people will reflect on the work I have done since the election including securing extra CCTV for Bucksburn, and putting funding toward the restoration of the Newhills Garden, post-vandalism, and will see that I have had no axe to grind with either school, I did not introduce party politics into my speech at the Council, contrary to what is being suggested above.

I spoke about aspiration, and I cannot understand why some folk are saying they would be happy to have their kids educated in a B-Grade building, which would last only another ten years. I want all children in Aberdeen educated in the best possible environment, and that in the case of Bucksburn meant the new school.

People talk about Bucksburn being a victim of cuts, but this will be a multi-million pound investment into the area.

Finally, in terms of aspiration, I resent the implication that I am simply using this position as a stepping stone to bigger things, I stood in 2007 as someone who had grown up in the area which I now represent, I have set myself no career path in politics, and would not seek to insult my constituents by implying that I am only in this to go somewhere else.

Oh, and as one of the 100 or so people who gave Angela a first or second preference vote, I am saddened that she did not get elected alongside me, I am sure when she runs her anti-Mark McDonald campaign in 2012 we will have an interesting time on the stump.

I shall leave this now, because as Angela says, this is the website for the Parent Council, and I am sure if the Parent Council decides at some stage that they wish to contact me, they will know where to find me.

Mark

]]> By: Billy http://bucksburn.info/2008/09/amalgamation/comment-page-1/#comment-180 Billy Sun, 15 Feb 2009 14:32:13 +0000 http://bucksburn.the-kid.org/?p=34#comment-180 LOL, I'll see if there's a way to force email you your details(I can't access them as they're encrypted for your security) I think there's a case for a "Party of Bucksburn" at the election. I'm not averse to these political rants on here either btw, not that I'm the "site police". It is after all the politics of this area that's closing 2 schools. The whole point of having commenting enabled is to allow people to vent, express etc but I understand trying to keep it informative and not political. LOL, I’ll see if there’s a way to force email you your details(I can’t access them as they’re encrypted for your security)

I think there’s a case for a “Party of Bucksburn” at the election. I’m not averse to these political rants on here either btw, not that I’m the “site police”. It is after all the politics of this area that’s closing 2 schools.

The whole point of having commenting enabled is to allow people to vent, express etc but I understand trying to keep it informative and not political.

]]> By: Ang Joss http://bucksburn.info/2008/09/amalgamation/comment-page-1/#comment-179 Ang Joss Sun, 15 Feb 2009 10:25:06 +0000 http://bucksburn.the-kid.org/?p=34#comment-179 I take your point about freedom of speech. It's one of the principles I hold most dear. It was Mr McDonald's smiley face icon which tipped me out of my post-Valentine-husband-made-steak-dinner happiness and prompted me to post. I'm also still smarting at the way we were treated at the Council meeting. And Billy, you missed the last part of the "debate" where all five parents were quietly appalled at the almost schoolyard form of arguements between councillors, well rehearsed, entirely party political, obviously just going through the motions. As I whispered to one of the Newhills' mums, "Can you believe THIS is what's deciding our children's fate"? The whole local council thing stinks. It should be non-political. It should be people who live in an area representing that area and accountable to their fellow residents. They should be independent of any party political allegiance. It should not be people with very little life experience making their way up the career politician's ladder, with an eye on the "bigger prize" of Holyrood, Westminster, their own tv show, whatever. This last comment is a general one and not aimed at any one in particular. We, as a nation, have allowed our every day lives to be controlled by a motley crew, in most - not all - cases, who struggle within an out-dated system. What a farce that little ceremony at the beginning of the Council meeting was, four men shuffled in to swear allegiance to something or other and hand over a white purse to ANOTHER man in a big red coat. Hey, this is my children's education we're fighting for here - not the continuation of an archaic, male orientated costume drama. I stood for local council because I believe in the rights of EVERY individual and I think I may do so again in two years time, in spite of being told by a council employee that it's almost impossible to get elected as an independent unless there's been an "issue" in your ward that has people up-in-arms. Well, there has now. Why don't some more of us stand as independents ? Start the Revolution from Boxy ? We couldn't do any worse than the present incumbents. And without petty politics we might do rather better. I will not take your bet, Billy, having lost all faith in local democracy but I will continue to fight for the best outcome for ALL the children involved. PS I've lost my log in details... PPS That's my last rant of a political nature. This is a site for Bucksburn Parent Council but I cannot get over the loss and hurt I feel at us all working so hard and so long for something that was never in our power to change anyway. I take your point about freedom of speech. It’s one of the principles I hold most dear. It was Mr McDonald’s smiley face icon which tipped me out of my post-Valentine-husband-made-steak-dinner happiness and prompted me to post.
I’m also still smarting at the way we were treated at the Council meeting. And Billy, you missed the last part of the “debate” where all five parents were quietly appalled at the almost schoolyard form of arguements between councillors, well rehearsed, entirely party political, obviously just going through the motions. As I whispered to one of the Newhills’ mums, “Can you believe THIS is what’s deciding our children’s fate”? The whole local council thing stinks. It should be non-political. It should be people who live in an area representing that area and accountable to their fellow residents. They should be independent of any party political allegiance. It should not be people with very little life experience making their way up the career politician’s ladder, with an eye on the “bigger prize” of Holyrood, Westminster, their own tv show, whatever. This last comment is a general one and not aimed at any one in particular. We, as a nation, have allowed our every day lives to be controlled by a motley crew, in most – not all – cases, who struggle within an out-dated system. What a farce that little ceremony at the beginning of the Council meeting was, four men shuffled in to swear allegiance to something or other and hand over a white purse to ANOTHER man in a big red coat. Hey, this is my children’s education we’re fighting for here – not the continuation of an archaic, male orientated costume drama.
I stood for local council because I believe in the rights of EVERY individual and I think I may do so again in two years time, in spite of being told by a council employee that it’s almost impossible to get elected as an independent unless there’s been an “issue” in your ward that has people up-in-arms. Well, there has now. Why don’t some more of us stand as independents ? Start the Revolution from Boxy ? We couldn’t do any worse than the present incumbents. And without petty politics we might do rather better.
I will not take your bet, Billy, having lost all faith in local democracy but I will continue to fight for the best outcome for ALL the children involved.
PS I’ve lost my log in details…
PPS That’s my last rant of a political nature. This is a site for Bucksburn Parent Council but I cannot get over the loss and hurt I feel at us all working so hard and so long for something that was never in our power to change anyway.

]]> By: Billy http://bucksburn.info/2008/09/amalgamation/comment-page-1/#comment-178 Billy Sat, 14 Feb 2009 22:25:20 +0000 http://bucksburn.the-kid.org/?p=34#comment-178 To be fair, inappropriate or not I DO encourage free speech on this site. I also encourage anyone to put forward their points of view, after all it's only when the parent council hears the views they can act on them. In this respect I totally encourage Mark to post both his personal views AND his political stance on any subject. An encouragement open to all. In respect of that and with regards to my personal blog, which incidentally was taken offline on 17th December 2008 iirc, my letter on Wednesday was sent in my capacity as secretary at Bucksburn PC. It was therefore inappropriate to ask about my personal views. They asked Nikki about going to Newhills even though she's zoned for Bucksburn which also was a personal question with nothing to do with who she was representing(Newhills PC). It's a cheap form of politics that Mark will need to clean up if he aspires to be more than an ACC Councillor. I do not and will not dismiss Mark's viewpoints on these issues. I will continue to allow them to be published as I'm very much against censorship. I will allow anyone to post any personal view on here. He's entitled to hold any viewpoint he so pleases. What he's not allowed to do, at least ethically, is let that personal viewpoint get in the way of his job and it's with this that my problem lies. If he's stating a personal viewpoint that's fine. If he's stating a personal viewpoint while acting in his position as local councillor, that's not. He's more than welcome to have views and air them, but the capacity in which those are aired must be distinguishable. Free speech is one of the fundamental principles of democracy. Having said that, what one has the other must have and Angela I totally agree with you. He has the right to say it, you have the right to be offended by it and act accordingly. Since we are stating personal views now too, I have always voted SNP since I was able to vote. I've never missed an election, local, regional, Scottish or UK and I must admit I did vote for the party in the election for councillors as I was fairly new in the area and hadn't gotten to know the who's who yet, so Mark got my vote. Ang your margin has gone to 98 with the fiasco that was the democratic system meltdown in Aberdeen. I had no idea how Mark had voted, I just laid an implication to which he responded in the positive. *shakes head* It's the spin that the council feeds each other that gets me. I had to leave the gallery before the councillors could get into the debate as my kid was getting restless but I bet the phrases "state-of-the-art school fit for 21st century teaching" and "Jewel in the Aberdeen educational crown" (or something very similar)were uttered by some of the very people we voted in to represent us. We're facing an uphill battle from the start, before we even think about the walk to Newhills! Over before it's begun? I have £50 here(ok not really but I'm not worried!) says that despite our fight the Newhills site gets chosen, anyone want to take that bet or does everyone else think it's a paper exercise? Billy PS Ang if you were logged in you'd get this grey box round your comments too! To be fair, inappropriate or not I DO encourage free speech on this site. I also encourage anyone to put forward their points of view, after all it’s only when the parent council hears the views they can act on them.

In this respect I totally encourage Mark to post both his personal views AND his political stance on any subject. An encouragement open to all.

In respect of that and with regards to my personal blog, which incidentally was taken offline on 17th December 2008 iirc, my letter on Wednesday was sent in my capacity as secretary at Bucksburn PC. It was therefore inappropriate to ask about my personal views. They asked Nikki about going to Newhills even though she’s zoned for Bucksburn which also was a personal question with nothing to do with who she was representing(Newhills PC).

It’s a cheap form of politics that Mark will need to clean up if he aspires to be more than an ACC Councillor.

I do not and will not dismiss Mark’s viewpoints on these issues. I will continue to allow them to be published as I’m very much against censorship. I will allow anyone to post any personal view on here. He’s entitled to hold any viewpoint he so pleases. What he’s not allowed to do, at least ethically, is let that personal viewpoint get in the way of his job and it’s with this that my problem lies.

If he’s stating a personal viewpoint that’s fine. If he’s stating a personal viewpoint while acting in his position as local councillor, that’s not. He’s more than welcome to have views and air them, but the capacity in which those are aired must be distinguishable.

Free speech is one of the fundamental principles of democracy.

Having said that, what one has the other must have and Angela I totally agree with you. He has the right to say it, you have the right to be offended by it and act accordingly.

Since we are stating personal views now too, I have always voted SNP since I was able to vote. I’ve never missed an election, local, regional, Scottish or UK and I must admit I did vote for the party in the election for councillors as I was fairly new in the area and hadn’t gotten to know the who’s who yet, so Mark got my vote. Ang your margin has gone to 98 with the fiasco that was the democratic system meltdown in Aberdeen.

I had no idea how Mark had voted, I just laid an implication to which he responded in the positive. *shakes head*

It’s the spin that the council feeds each other that gets me. I had to leave the gallery before the councillors could get into the debate as my kid was getting restless but I bet the phrases “state-of-the-art school fit for 21st century teaching” and “Jewel in the Aberdeen educational crown” (or something very similar)were uttered by some of the very people we voted in to represent us. We’re facing an uphill battle from the start, before we even think about the walk to Newhills!

Over before it’s begun? I have £50 here(ok not really but I’m not worried!) says that despite our fight the Newhills site gets chosen, anyone want to take that bet or does everyone else think it’s a paper exercise?

Billy

PS Ang if you were logged in you’d get this grey box round your comments too!

]]> By: Ang Joss http://bucksburn.info/2008/09/amalgamation/comment-page-1/#comment-177 Ang Joss Sat, 14 Feb 2009 21:25:21 +0000 http://bucksburn.the-kid.org/?p=34#comment-177 Does anyone else think that one of our elected representatives, ie Mr McDonald, leaving a glib reply, accompanied by a SMILEY face, two days after we hear that our school is going to be closed, is totally inappropriate ? Yup, he got in with 2620 votes. I lost that election with something over 100 votes. (First time I ever stood and as an independent.) Not a huge deal of difference when you consider I knew nothing about the process, did not, like him, have the backing of a major political party, and did not make use of any of the available funds for self-promotion. I'll know better next time - and so should you. I'll be the candidate running under the slogan "I'm NOT Mark McDonald and I did NOT vote to close your primary school". To let you understand, Mark used his position in Council Chambers last Wednesday to ask personal questions about Billy when he was not in a position to reply. I totally agree with Billy's view that Mark (and our other councillors, apart from Barney Crockett who argued vehemently for us), should have been representing OUR views, not their own. Sarah and I spoke our hearts out for Bucksburn School, and the people here. Bear that in mind when the next elections come around because I'm going to stand again against these party political jobsworths. And I'll provide a torch for someone who was so far up Kevin Stewart and Kate Dean's secret places that they'd need a light to see out. Bucksburn is NOT a failing school. Bucksburn does NOT have a falling role. Our staff are great, our children are keen. What on earth does it take to keep something going which, most definitely, isn't broken ? And, I'm so angry that a school which educated three generations of my family is to close for political expediency. DO NOT FORGET WHEN IT COMES TO LOCAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS. That said, I'll be joing with Bucksburn PC to work with Newhills PC to get the best for ALL our children, whatever happens to us. But, what happened last week was a travesty of local democracy. Does anyone else think that one of our elected representatives, ie Mr McDonald, leaving a glib reply, accompanied by a SMILEY face, two days after we hear that our school is going to be closed, is totally inappropriate ? Yup, he got in with 2620 votes. I lost that election with something over 100 votes. (First time I ever stood and as an independent.) Not a huge deal of difference when you consider I knew nothing about the process, did not, like him, have the backing of a major political party, and did not make use of any of the available funds for self-promotion. I’ll know better next time – and so should you. I’ll be the candidate running under the slogan “I’m NOT Mark McDonald and I did NOT vote to close your primary school”. To let you understand, Mark used his position in Council Chambers last Wednesday to ask personal questions about Billy when he was not in a position to reply. I totally agree with Billy’s view that Mark (and our other councillors, apart from Barney Crockett who argued vehemently for us), should have been representing OUR views, not their own. Sarah and I spoke our hearts out for Bucksburn School, and the people here. Bear that in mind when the next elections come around because I’m going to stand again against these party political jobsworths. And I’ll provide a torch for someone who was so far up Kevin Stewart and Kate Dean’s secret places that they’d need a light to see out. Bucksburn is NOT a failing school. Bucksburn does NOT have a falling role. Our staff are great, our children are keen. What on earth does it take to keep something going which, most definitely, isn’t broken ? And, I’m so angry that a school which educated three generations of my family is to close for political expediency. DO NOT FORGET WHEN IT COMES TO LOCAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS. That said, I’ll be joing with Bucksburn PC to work with Newhills PC to get the best for ALL our children, whatever happens to us. But, what happened last week was a travesty of local democracy.

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