Last hope as campaigners call on ombudsman to overturn ‘injustice’

2:50pm Friday 22nd August 2008

THE decision to close a Winsford primary school has finally been rubberstamped but campaigners say they will not give up without a fight.

A Cheshire County Council executive sub-committee decided to go ahead with the closure of Handley Hill Primary School on July 8, but parents and governors have said they are not giving up hope just yet.

Vale Royal Borough councillor Charlie Parkinson, who is also a governor at the school, has written to the local government ombudsman to help fight their corner.

“The way it stands right now Handley Hill is due to close this time next year,” he said.

“We have already exhausted the appeals procedure but we don’t believe the correct decision has been made.

“We have voted unanimously to ask the local government ombudsman to investigate the decision.

“If they believe that we have a case then they have the power to overturn the decision.”

Campaigners feel they have been ‘done an injustice’ after councillors voted 25 to 22 to keep the school open at a full council meeting at county hall, but despite this a statutory public notice to close the school was issued on December 18 as councillors were not made aware of the previous decision made to keep the school open.

Clr Parkinson added: “We have made a complaint about the procedures used on December 18 “We feel we have been let down by members of Cheshire County Council not knowing the rules and procedures and more importantly by officers who knew what our wishes were, but because it wasn’t in the correct form they didn’t intervene and advise the members.

“We feel we have suffered a mal-administration leading to injustice.”

The ombudsman has confirmed he will investigate the claim and campaigners are expecting a response within six weeks.