Labour decide to close schools despite public outcry

10.22.34am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 21st Feb 2007

Local Lib Dem campaigner Steve Ayris protesting

Wisewood and Myers Grove Schools are to be shut down by Labour despite fierce opposition from mums and dads who have campaigned around the local area. The move confirms the suspicion that the consultation was a sham as the decision for closures had already been taken behind closed doors. Lib Dems are protesting against the decision and have put forward an alternative proposal which seeks to keep both schools open and under LEA control.

Cllr David Baker, Lib Dem Group Deputy Leader, said: -

"Despite local people making it abundantly clear that they are opposed to the plan for school closures Labour have refused to listen and are going ahead anyway. It's proof that the consultation was nothing more than a sham, which is what local residents and ourselves suspected from the start. This whole process has been a shambles and local people have been deceived"

Hundreds protest against the school closures

"Unlike Labour local Liberal Democrats have been listening to local people and we believe that both schools could have a viable future. That's why in our local election manifesto there will be a pledge to go to the Government with a plan that provides a two community school solution, keeping both Wisewood and Myers Grove open under LEA control and securing investment for improvements"

"Given the councils track record we have reservations over their announcement that the LEA will be seriously bidding to run the school. Only last week Labour decided to contact every secondary school in Sheffield inviting them to become trusts or academies. It seems they could just be leading local people up the garden path again and they could still end up with a trust school under their plan"