Labour urged to stop scare-mongering and support local schools

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Sat 9th Jun 2007

Following the historic decision taken by Sheffield City Council to save Wisewood and Myers Grove Schools the local Labour Party have been urged to stop scare-mongering in the wake of their claims that the decision will cost local taxpayers.

Lib Dems are demanding that the Labour controlled Council get on with the job of implementing the policy of the City Council and provide long term futures for both Wisewood and Myers Grove Schools.

Labour's scare-mongering claim that Sheffield will lose investment is untrue and there are many examples across the country of how funding can be secured to provide for good local community schools. Even under the present Governments programme, funding will be available to provide for existing schools. The local council can also choose to invest in the day-to-day running costs of Wisewood and Myers Grove without affecting existing schools budgets.

Cllr Sylvia Anginotti, Liberal Democrat Shadow Cabinet member for Education, said: -

"This is scare-mongering by Labour and it just goes to show that they will do anything to get their own way. Even the Labour Party were asking for a review of their own decision - an admission that there is more than one option if the political will is there."

"There will be extra investment for both Wisewood and Myers Grove Schools and this is what the we should concentrate on and work towards. To suggest that money will be diverted from other schools in Sheffield is simply untrue."

"Only this week, we have heard that £2.9M has been found to fund a financial irregularity and suspected fraud in the Markets budget. It is clear that there are resources within the council, its just a matter of priorities."

I am delighted that the Liberal Democrat proposal to the City Council yesterday, stopped the closure of these two Schools. Now is the time for Councillors to work on the future of Wisewood and Myers Grove, stop this ridiculous scare- mongering and start providing for the future of the existing and future pupils of these highly respected Schools."