Save schools petition leads to new debate

Petitions containing thousands of signatures calling for five schools in Shropshire to be saved from the axe have prompted a special debate at the county's Shirehall next week.

The annual meeting of Shropshire Council has set aside time for protesters to speak about the petitions at the meeting on Thursday.

Earlier this week Shropshire Council voted to move to the next phase of the closure of Shrewsbury's Wakeman Secondary School, Stiperstones Primary School near Shrewsbury, Maesbury Primary School near Oswestry, Barrow School near Broseley, and Hopton Wafers in south Shropshire.

It deferred recommendations to close Onny and Lydbury North primary schools to see if they can firm up plans for Federation status.

During the campaigns five petitions, containing 1,000 or more signatures, were received — from the Wakeman, Maesbury, Lydbury North, Onny and Stiperstones. They all requested a debate under the council's petitions scheme.

A spokesman for the council said: "This allows each petitioner five minutes in which to outline their case, after which there will be a debate of up to 15 minutes duration."

Although Shropshire Council voted to move into the second phase of closure consultation for Maesbury, Wakeman and Stiperstones, council leader, Councillor Keith Barrow said there was still a chance for the schools to step back from closure.

On Thursday he said that if other schools came forward with ideas, they would be considered.