2:52pm Monday 6th September 2010
PUBLIC views are being sought on plans to revoke a controversial decision to close one school and expand another.
The closure of St Peter's Catholic College of Maths and Computing, in South Bank, and the linked £2.7m expansion of Sacred Heart RC School, in Redcar, was proposed as part of the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme.
But the developments had to be reviewed after £90m worth of funding earmarked for Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council to rebuild and refurbish schools throughout the area was lost as a result of the Government scrapping the BSF scheme.
Councillor Ian Jeffrey, cabinet member for education and children's services, said: "Following the devastating loss of £90m worth of investment in our schools, we moved swiftly to work alongside the Diocese of Middlesbrough to determine the way forward for future Catholic provision in the borough.
"The option now out to consultation is presently considered the most suitable as we look to manage the loss of BSF funding."
Earlier this year, the original proposals caused uproar in the community and hundreds of parents, pupils and staff packed out public meetings to express their dismay.
And today, the council started a public consultation on the revocation of the proposals and this will run until Sunday, October 24.
All views expressed during this time will be submitted to the Schools' Adjudicator, who has the final say on whether the plans can be reversed.
Comments can be sent to the Capital Projects Team, Directorate of Adult and Childrens Services, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, Redcar and Cleveland House, Kirkleatham Street, Redcar, TS10 1RT.
Alternatively, telephone 01642 771238; Typetalk 08001 01641 774774; text 07748 760916; fax 01642 771196; or e-mail schools_consultation@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk
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