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10
WESTER BROOM PLACE, CORSTORPHINE, EDINBURGH 07950
142 249
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Our
History - The Gylemuir Community Action Group The
Gylemuir community action group was originally set up in 1985. Its main aim
at that time was to safeguard the use of accommodation for the Playgroup and
Toddlers. After a high profile visit to the city chambers this was achieved
and the group became silent for a few years. In
1994 it became apparent that not only were there not enough nursery places
for the children in the area there was also a real danger that the school was
becoming seriously overcrowded. The group restarted and set about proving to
the council that a permanent extension to the school along with additional
nursery places was required. The group also set itself the aim of securing
the Playgroup/Toddlers accommodation (once again under threat) and getting
the council to provide a Community Facility. The
Action Group undertook a door to door survey in Autumn 1994 to show the
council that their were many more children in the area of pre-school age than
they had thought. It also showed that the people in this area not only
wanted, but needed a community facility, which everyone could use. The
Education Committee under the stewardship of Liz Maginnis agreed to increase
the nursery provision and undertook their own survey to determine the schools
needs. They guaranteed that the Playgroups accommodation would be safe but
gave us no promises on Community Facilities. In
April 1995 a temporary unit finally opened as the 2nd nursery class and
Gylemuir was able to accommodate 4 classes of 30 children each. This tied in
with the councils promise of a place for every pre-school child as well as
the majority of 3 year olds. The Action Group was still not satisfied though. The
group felt very strongly that there was a need for permanent accommodation
for the school rather than just temporary huts. After much pressure the
council decided to sell a plot of land next to South Gyle Station to Wimpy
Homes. This plot of land had originally been set-aside for a new school
however everyone involved came to realise that an extension to Many
plans were drawn up and rejected before the final design was chosen. When it
was through it produced some problems for the Action Group. The new building
was going to right on top of the Playgroups hut. The Acton Group then went
back to the council who agreed to put a new Unit in for the playgroup on
school grounds behind the nursery unit before they demolished the old hut.
The Council also agreed to let the Community have the Nursery unit once it
had moved into the new extension. After
many delays the works finally started in January 1999 and with only a minor
delay the Playgroup moved into its new home in February 1999. The
works finally finished in April 2000 and the Nursery, Primary1’s and
Primary2’s all moved into their new classes after the Easter holidays. An
opening party was held in June 2000 and each class had a celebration cake.
The week before this the Extension was officially opened by the first ever
Headteacher at Gylemuir, and the Convenor of Education. This
was not the end for the Action Group however. The council would not agree to
hand over the Nursery Unit until a management committee had been set up and
at the same time the playgroup was again in danger- this time due to low
numbers. In
October 2000, a public meeting was held to gage public support for a
management committee. Whilst this meeting was not attended by many those that
did come were enthusiastic about the idea and agreed to make a go of it. The
Gylemuir Community Association was born. More good news came before Christmas
when the Playgroups numbers went up thus safeguarding their future for the
time being. The
Action groups’ final job is to ensure that the Community facility is safely
(and securely) fenced off from the school so that the community can use the
units whenever they want to and not just during school times. The Action
Group will then become a part of Corstorphine's rich history. The
Action Group wishes the Community Association a long and well-used future. Emma
Newton Ex-
Chairperson Gylemuir
Community Action Group. January
2001 |
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The Gylemuir Community Association is a registered
charity SCO30778 It is run by local volunteers |
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