Parish councillors near Shrewsbury have dropped a bombshell on campaigners hoping to save their primary school by saying there is room for only one in the village.Residents in Bayston Hill have said they are “hugely disappointed” with the comments and do not believe the parish council is representing the electorate.
Bayston Hill Parish Council said, in a letter to Shropshire County Council following a special meeting this week, that “to maintain long term and sustainable quality education for all” the village can “no longer sustain” two primary schools.
Campaigners have been battling to save Oakland Primary School, which is being considered for amalgamation with Longmeadow Primary School.
The county council is consulting on the amalgamation of 16 schools across the county, including the two in Bayston Hill, with campaigners at Oakland warning an amalgamation effectively means closure.
Parent Nicola Hughes, 37, said: “I feel disappointed with the parish council.
“I do not feel they are representing the views of all the electorate of the village.”
Councillors held a special behind closed doors meeting on Monday when they heard from representatives from the county council.
But Cameron Taylor, chairman of governors at Oakland School, claims at the beginning of the meeting it was announced it could be an open meeting but by then it was then too late for the public to attend.
He said: “I had asked the parish council about it and was told it was a closed meeting. Shropshire County Council has just informed me that at the start of the meeting, the parish council decided it was an open meeting so the public could have attended.
He added: “I will be writing to them to express my dissatisfaction.
“As chair of governors, I am able to say that Oakland School is a viable, prospering primary school and feel that for a large rural village we have sufficient children to support both schools.”
But in its letter, the parish council states a motion was carried that the council needs to support all children of Bayston Hill and can no longer keep two primary schools due to the falling numbers of children demographically.
A referendum over whether Bayston Hill is large enough for two schools will be held on April 24.
Shropshire County Council was unavailable for comment today.
2 Comments
What a let off for Kawcsynski who as we all remember ‘vowed to do all he could’ (again)to maintain two schools.
But whats the betting that he will now say that having one primary school in Bayston Hill makes economic sense afterall?
put not your trust in tory mp’s bearing gifts ie tax cuts. 3 guesses what will have to close to pay for these tax cuts. scc better be careful, they have already had one rollocking from jim knight labour schools minister. if the schools in b/hill are thriving why close or merge them. if the parish council cannot stick up for the residents who can. answer get rid of them