WEDS PM: New council plans to close Castle Hall and Birkdale

Mar 4 2009 By Barry Gibson

In a statement Dewsbury and Mirfield MP Shahid Malik, said although he was very pleased that the council had agreed some of the proposals put together by the MP, headteachers and governors from across Dewsbury and Mirfield, he was angry that Kirklees had decided to stick with the Conservative proposal to close Castle Hall. 

“I’m obviously pleased that the Conservative proposals to close Thornhill and the St John Fisher sixth form have been scrapped. Likewise, I’m pleased they have listened to my call for a dedicated sixth form college, something the Conservatives rejected, and have also scrapped the Conservative plan to build a 1650 place school on the Westborough site which would have been a traffic nightmare.”

However, Mr Malik said he would challenge the Kirklees decision not to consult further on the Castle Hall closure adding: “Although it may be correct that no further consultation is legally required, it is clear the initial consultation process by the Conservative administration was seriously flawed and fairness would demand a proper consultation for Castle Hall. I personally believe that Mirfield has room for two successful schools working collaboratively to deliver a broad curriculum.”

“I’m angry that the new administration has stuck with the Conservative proposals for Mirfield. Closing Castle Hall and enlarging the Mirfield Free Grammar might well please the new Conservative leader Jim Dodds but it will rightly anger and upset the majority of people in Mirfield.”

Mr Malik added: “I have arranged to meet with the Castle Hall school community on Friday to decide how we fight the proposal.”

In a statement, Kirklees Council conservative group leader Jim Dodds said:

"This is a complete sham. Cllr Pinnock labelled our original proposals last September as being a ‘dogs dinner’ but she clearly had no better alternative up her sleeve.

"Six months down the line she and her cohorts have come up with proposals that reflect 80% of that same ‘dogs dinner’.

"The Lib/Lab pact have completely ignored public opinion which was registered in the comprehensive consultation that took place,consultation that saw the Conservative Group revise their proposals which subsequently prompted their downfall as the Cabinet controlling the Council.

"The whole point of consultation is that people have a voice which is heard and appropriate changes are made. The Lib/Lab pact have made it clear they will listen to no-one and do as they see fit.

"The new proposals fudge the issue of single sex education in Batley and try to sweeten the bitter pill of no school in Birkenshaw with the shallow promise that the site will be retained for education purposes.

"I don’t hold out much hope for that promise, and the people of Birkenshaw, Gomersal, Birstall and East Bierley will be rightly appalled at this cop out.

"Parents who campaigned for Castle Hall will be just as appalled. They enlisted the support of their MP Shahid Malik only to find he is incapable of even securing the support of Labour’s council leader Cllr Mehboob Khan who is happy to recommend the closure of Castle Hall.

"The new proposals from the Lib/Lab administration are a real kick in the teeth for the people of North Kirklees – I hope they get the response they deserve.

"At the end of the day our children have only one chance at school, and the Lib/Lab pact is failing many of our children in many areas of north Kirklees."