The Scottish Parliament has passed a controversial bill which will allow a new high school to be built in a public park.

On Thursday, MSPs approved a private bill to allow Portobello High School to be situated in an area of Portobello Park.

The ruling means that work on the £41m project can begin – a decade after it was first suggested.

The plans have been strongly opposed by some due to the loss of green space that would result of the new build. Following a public consultation process with the local community, in which more than 12,000 people were involved, Edinburgh Council published a private bill to ask for a change in law to allow the project to continue.

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Councillor Paul Godzik, Education Leader, welcomed the decision. He said: "This decision will be welcomed by the Portobello community as it clears the legal obstacle that has prevented us building the new Portobello High School on Portobello Park. We know there is overwhelming support in the local community for our plans.

"As soon as the legislation is in force we will appropriate the park and formally appoint our contractors, Balfour Beatty, to ensure that the construction of the new school starts on site as quickly as possible.

"The young people of Portobello deserve high quality education facilities and I am confident not only that the school community will benefit from our plans but also that the wider local community will be able to enjoy the improved sports and other facilities that will be available when the new school opens, which we anticipate will be in August 2016."

The Portobello Park Action Group (PPAG) who has campaigned against the proposals said it was a "bleak day for democracy in Scotland".

(JP/MH)