Delay in decision on Castle Hall School “raises flase hopes”

Aug 28 2009 Huddersfield Daily Examiner

TORY councillors today accused Kirklees Council of raising “false hopes” over the future of Mirfield’s Castle Hall School.

They claimed that a decision to delay a decision on its future was “a sham”.

But Labour have vowed to take on board all concerns about the school, which faces closure under the £200m Building Schools for the Future project.

The decision to delay a decision until the end of next month was announced two weeks ago.

But Kirklees Conservative Leader Clr Jim Dodds suggested that the announcement of a delay in a final decision regarding Castle Hall was nothing more than a postponement of the decision to close.

He said it came from a Labour administration that wished to portray itself as being seen to do the right thing.

Clr Dodds said that announcing the delay in the way that they had done, by indicating that they would genuinely consider the representations made, would simply add further to the BSF sham over which they had presided.

He said: “The Labour administration appear to be trying to give the impression that they are genuinely considering the views that have been forthcoming and they have delayed their final decision regarding Castle Hall because of that.

“This is simply raising false hopes to parents that there remains a chance the school will remain open.

“I don’t believe there is any chance that the Cabinet will make such a decision.

“The comments made by Ken Smith suggest that he is going to give full consideration to all views received.