Shropshire Council receives 700 letters over school closures

SHROPSHIRE EDUCATION chiefs have received more than 700 responses from the public over controversial plans to close nine county schools - amid claims they are struggling to cope with the backlash.

Shropshire Council is nearing the end of a six week public consultation over its proposals to close eight primaries across the county as well as the Wakeman School in Shrewsbury - the only secondary school on its hitlist.

But campaigners today accused bosses of failing to respond to their questions and claimed the consultation exercise was flawed.

Claire Corfield, a member of the steering group for the under threat Stiperstones Primary School, near Shrewsbury, today said she had sent 11 letters to David Taylor, director of children and young people's services at the council, but had only received one reply.

She said: "Three are now overdue for a reply and I have begun to put in formal complaints about the lack of response. I have received acknowledgement of the complaint but still no response from the complaints department."

Felicity Roberts, spokeswoman for Shropshire Council, said : "Since the publication of the cabinet report we have received more than 700 responses to the consultation. As of March 23, over 600 of these responses had been acknowledged, and where appropriate, answered in detail.

"The Government's code of practice on consultation responses outlines that it is standard practice to provide feedback following consultation. However we want to respond as quickly as possible after receiving responses, during consultation."

Meanwhile Councillor Peter Phillips, Shropshire Council member for Bishop's Castle division, today said it was "unacceptable" for officers to use a 30 day response clause in such a widespread fashion. He said: "The 30 days should only be used for complex questions but many of those being posed are not difficult to answer."

Campaigners from Stiperstones claimed Shirehall officials had given themselves an extra 20 days to answer tough questions.

By Russell Roberts