Lib Dems join with Parents to force Council climb-down over schools

12.32.44pm GMT Tue 12th Feb 2008

"I will not stop fighting for our county's schools" - Sarah Carr

Following the news that Conservative-controlled Herefordshire Council have been forced to completely withdraw their school review proposals that intended to close schools across Herefordshire (8 February), Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Hereford and South Herefordshire, Sarah Carr said,

"Alongside over 200 other local people I attended the full meeting of Herefordshire Council on Friday 8th February to witness council leader Roger Phillips admit that he had known what was in the school closure proposals back in December and yet he still allowed the review to be released on to the public and disrupt the lives of families across the county.

"I was also shocked and appalled that the Cabinet member responsible for Children's services did not attend the meeting."

"The joint Liberal Democrat and Independent group of Councillors motion against the school closures forced the ruling Conservative group to table an amendment rejecting the original school closure proposals. As the leader of the council knew what was in the proposals it is in effect a vote of no confidence in his leadership and the Conservative administration."

Sarah Carr and local Liberal Democrats will be taking part in the Herefordshire Against Closing Schools (HACS) Rally on 13 February to demonstrate their strength of feeling about the way local people have been treated so badly by the Conservative administration of Herefordshire Council. Even though the Conservatives are furiously back-tracking, the march is going ahead to reaffirm Herefordshire's opposition to school closures.