Village 'divided' by school idea

A Shropshire village is being torn in half because of controversial plans by Shropshire County Council to amalgamate two of its schools, a parent campaigner has claimed today.

Oakland Primary School in Bayston Hill is being considered under Shropshire County Council's proposals to amalgamate the school with nearby Longmeadow Primary School.

Parents and staff believe the plans would effectively mean closure for Oakland School.

But mother-of-two Keeley Caudwell, 27, from Bayston Hill, said the council's plans had caused a huge rift in the village. At a meeting held last week, angry parents argued as they fought for the future of both schools and tensions rose.

Mrs Caudwell is now organising an Easter event on Sunday to try and reunite the community.

She said: "It's causing a raucous. The council is ruining this village.

"It's not ruining it in the sense that one group are fighting for one thing and the other for another - we all want the same thing but it's causing bad feelings between the two schools.

"Oakland School does not have a problem with Longmeadow School but rumours keep spreading around and it's causing a lot of friction.We want to bring all the village together."

Sunday's event, at the fields at Oakland School, will include a host of Easter events.

John Hitchings, vice chairman of Longmeadow School, said: "I think it's a very good idea to organise any community event. At the end of the day, children from all over Bayston Hill go to either of the schools."