Closure claim rejected

A council education chief has defended closing a Black Country school after an MP accused the authority of breaking promises and said it may lead to community breakdown.

Councillor Liz Walker, Dudley Council cabinet member for education, hit back at claims by Stourbridge MP Lynda Waltho, who said that she had been inundated with complaints from parents about closure of Cradley High School. The council decided to close it despite a concerted campaign by parents to keep it open. It is due to close in August 2008.

Pupils in years 10 and 11 will complete their education. Younger pupils transfer elsewhere later this year.

The Homer Hill school is to close because falling pupil numbers led to a £500,000 reduction in funding.

Mrs Waltho accused the council of breaking promises on teachers staying on until closure and about grants to buy new school uniforms.

She was also concerned about the leisure centre and surrounding parkland and said: "Once again my weekend surgery was full of worried parents and I am still dealing with parents, staff and pupils who are reeling from this decision to close Cradley High School."

"There are reports of houses going up for sale in an attempt to move closer to alternative schools, the school has been attacked by vandals and many parents are concerned at the length of travel their children will have to endure in order to get to schools across Dudley.

"There is a very real chance of the community breaking down. It must be hard to reconcile oneself with presiding over this litany of broken promises and broken dreams."

Mrs Walker said it was a difficult decision but "we are only complying with legislation and funding limits set out by her government".

They had handled it as humanely as possible, talked to people and tried to allay their fears.

"The one good thing to come out of the consultation process is that it brought the community together. The Cradley community is far too strong for something like this to break it down. It will withstand the changes that have to come and will continue to grow. We are working on a number of issues, including ensuring that teaching expertise is provided until the school's closure and making sure that every pupil will get a grant towards a new uniform."