D-day looms for threatened school

Written by Mandy Atkinson and published in Derbyshire Times on Thu 30th Nov 2006

The future of an under-threat village school is now in the hands of education chiefs after hundreds of angry protesters had their final say on the plans.

Derbyshire County Council bosses have been inundated with thousands of copies of opposition letters and a 850-name petition against their cost-cutting proposal to shut Stoney Middleton Primary School.

Tuesday was the cut-off point for residents to have their say on the bid - which will now go before committee chiefs for the authority's ruling on December 12.

Leaders of the Save Our School SOS campaign are now urging people to show a last front of opposition by turning out to the cabinet meeting at Matlock's County Hall.

Peter Hobson, chairman of the school's governing body, said: "The council should now be aware, both of the strength of local opposition to this plan, and of the devastating social costs it would impose on this community.

"We hope that the council will listen and put aside this ill-considered and damaging closure proposal."

Bosses at the authority have defended the controversial proposal, saying the school is half-empty and therefore costing £5,678 to educate each of its 21 pupils - more than double the average cost.

They have now vowed to take on board the views put forward during the five-week consultation period, and say if no agreement can be reached between the two parties an independent party could be brought in to make a final ruling.

A spokeswoman for the county council said: "Now that our public consultation has come to an end we will carefully consider all the comments and letters that we have received from interested parties.

"A recommendation will then be put to the committee, at a meeting due to be held on December 12, and we will move things on from there."

mandy.atkinson@derbyshiretimes.co.uk

30 November 2006