Parents of doomed Chadwell St Mary School dealt another blow

PARENTS campaigning to save Chadwell St Mary Primary School were dealt another blow as councillors voted against withdrawing the consultation on closure.

The school has been under threat of closure since September when it was leaked to the Gazette that Thurrock Council, which is facing a budget shortfall, could cash in by closing troubled Chadwell St Mary School which it says is massively under-used.

At a meeting of the full council last night Labour ward councillor for Chadwell St Mary Gerard Rice put forward a motion to withdraw the consultation on closure.

As well as the well-being of pupils Coun Rice cited the proposed 700 new homes being considered by Thurrock Council and the Thames Gateway Development Corporation as key reasons why the motion should be carried.

He said: “In Chadwell alone there is 400 new homes proposed according to the Local Development Plan (LDF) plus 300 more from the Development Corporation.

“If you have 700 new homes in Chadwell we’re going to have at least 250 to 300 new children. We will need to expand that school not reduce it.”

Leader of the Council Terry Hipsey responded to parents from the public gallery who asked whether the decision to close the school has already been made?

Coun Hipsey said: “Despite all the rumours that cabinet members have already decided the future surrounding the school they have not discussed the future options.”

Parents also asked why the teachers were left in the dark over the plan to close the school.

Deputy leader of the Council, Sue MacPherson, who has responsibility for education and children, said: “It would have been preferable to inform staff, parents and pupils of the consultation ahead of the press.

“The fact that information was leaked to the press in the school holidays made it difficult.”

Despite heartfelt pleas from Labour councillors to carry the motion the Tory’s quibbled on the wording of it with Councillor Neil Rockliffe claiming that not going ahead with the current consultation could result in the decision being made by central government.

The consultation process ends in December when the documents will be gathered together and presented to the cabinet. A final decision will be made in the new year.