Celebrating the Golden Valley!

1.20.25pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 10th Jun 2008

Sarah Carr joined other parents and campaigners in fighting Conservative plans to close schools such as Fairfield.

Commenting on the launch of the publication 'How gold is our valley' and 'The Schools Crisis and After' debate hosted by Fairfield School of Peterchurch at the Hay Festival on Thursday 22nd May, Sarah Carr, the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Hereford and South Herefordshire, who attended said,

"Communities across Herefordshire were badly affected by Conservative run Herefordshire Council's school closure fiasco thankfully now withdrawn after massive community protest. People's feelings are still very raw about the whole process as was evident in the debate at the Hay Festival. Those Conservative elected members who run the Council now have a steep hill to climb to regain the trust they have lost."

During the debate hosted by Fairfield school Sarah Carr spoke about a 'closure culture' with schools, post offices and more recently County Farms under threat. Sarah urged Herefordshire Council to act responsibly and to think of the social consequences of their actions.

After the debate Sarah Carr said,

"'How gold is our valley' is a wonderful publication, a celebration of a beautiful part of our county and I warmly welcome its publication. The story evokes the landscape of the area, the powerful strength of community spirit which we must cherish but also clearly highlights the multiple threats to our rural way of life which we must together combat."