Paul Keetch MP and Sarah Carr campaign to save schools in Herefordshire

8.28.00am GMT Fri 18th Jan 2008

Lib Dem MP Paul Keetch and Sarah Carr have reacted to the overwhelming correspondence received in connection with Herefordshire Council's review of the county's schools by calling for evidence and closer scrutiny of the proposals published last week.

Paul Keetch MP said, "It is my intention to make contact with all schools in my constituency affected by these proposals and I will be working with Sarah Carr and the Liberal Democrats to ensure that individual schools can make their representations for me to follow up in the consultation period. The Liberal Democrat policy when running the County Council was for a school to have a minimum of 25 pupils before measures were taken to consider closure or amalgamation. The trigger now seems much higher from the information supplied in the review thus far which I find questionable. Whilst local Tories try to make political capital trying to save village post offices, their fellow Tories running Herefordshire Council are busy closing village schools Do our communities and our children have to suffer in order for this Council to benefit from the sale of the school premises so that they can balance their books? We cannot let this happen. The Council is rushing ahead - why?"

Sarah Carr, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate added, "On the face of these proposals I am appalled that Conservative run Herefordshire Council is planning to close so many of our popular local schools. These proposals would rip the heart out of communities across rural Herefordshire. The Conservative party started the demise of many rural communities by closing thousands of Post Offices - something they choose to ignore in their current publicity - now they are trying to finish the job by closing our local schools. I hope that all those who are concerned about the review will sign up to the 'Save Our Schools' petition that was launched last week and will support our children's future education at the heart of the community."

A list of schools at risk can be found at http://herefordlibdems.org.uk/news/59.html