Local people need more information

3.05.57pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 26th Jun 2007

Liberal Democrats on Oxfordshire County Council have asked that the Children's Services Scrutiny Committee look again at the decision made at Cabinet on 20th June about secondary schooling in Wantage and Grove. The Cabinet had decided to go with the option for a small 600 place secondary school for Grove without a sixth form.

Local Liberal Democrat Councillors for Grove and Wantage, Zoé Patrick and Jim Moley, asked a number of questions at the Cabinet meeting that were totally ignored. They had concerns about the educational aspects of a small school without sixth form provision, and whether the scheme could actually be delivered in time for the early stages of the new development planned for Grove.

Zoé said, "I had concerns that were not dealt with, so I am simply asking the relevant scrutiny committee to ensure that answers are provided. I am being asked questions by my constituents and I need to find out more. It seems like this cumbersome process is now the only way to squeeze information from the Conservatives at County Hall!"

Jim said, "There was a clear MORI type opinion poll that showed that local people wanted two schools of equal size, and until we have the answers we do not know why this option has been so completely disregarded."