ANOTHER LOCAL SUCCESS ON SCHOOL SITE (Durham Liberal Democrats)

Durham Liberal Democrats <info@durhamlibdems.org.uk>

ANOTHER LOCAL SUCCESS ON SCHOOL SITE

September 30, 2009 12:00 AM

Liberal Democrats in Durham have congratulated local residents on the success of their campaign to save the Esh Winning School site.

In a campaign spearheaded by local Lib Dem Councillor John Wilkinson, residents fought against Labour plans to move the school away from its current site and build it over the village green. The Council has today announced a u-turn on the decision and the new school will be built on the existing location.

At the original public meeting on the proposed move, the Labour MP for Durham was declared to be in favour of moving the school. She is now attempting to claim credit for the school remaining where it is.

Councillor Carol Woods, Lib Dem Parliamentary campaigner for Durham said, "I warmly welcome today's announcement. I'm delighted that the Council has bowed to local pressure and changed its mind. Unlike our MP who attacked every move the Lib Dem Council made, I'm happy to congratulate the Council when they listen to local people and make the right decision.

"This is a victory for the hard-working people of Esh Winning who did so much to make their opposition to the move well known. Lib Dem Councillor John Wilkinson has been at the forefront of this campaign from the outset. He had a fantastic reaction to the petition he launched the safeguard the current school site.

"It would be much easier for everyone if the Council got these decisions right in the first place. It made no sense to move the school from the fantastic site it currently occupies. It is heartening to know that strong local opposition to the Council can still make a difference. It would be nice if the MP could recognise the work of local residents rather than make an attempt to claim credit every time the Council is forced to back down under public pressure."