VICTORY FOR COMMON SENSE ON ACADEMY CONSULTATION (Durham Liberal Democrats)

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

VICTORY FOR COMMON SENSE ON ACADEMY CONSULTATION

June 30, 2009 12:00 AM

Liberal Democrats have welcomed the County Council's decision to extend the consultation on the location of the controversial Academy for Durham City.

Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesperson, Carol Woods, said,

"This is a small victory for common sense. It was ridiculous of the Council to set such a short consultation period in the first place. They acted with unnecessary haste and didn't even have the decency to speak to the local bodies that would be most keenly affected."

Despite having said last week that she was "really pleased the Council had moved so quickly", the Labour MP for Durham is now claiming credit for the extension.

Carol Woods said, "Credit for this reversal by the Council should go to the members of the local community and the local Parish Council who expressed legitimate concern at the overly strict time constraints originally imposed.

"This is the first time throughout this long process that the Council has shown any sign of listening to people. I only hope they continue to do so rather to treat this consultation as they have every other - as a means of rubber-stamping a decision they've already made."