Parents urged to speak out over academy
PEOPLE concerned about the location of a new city academy have been warned they must make their voices heard before it is too late.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council's plan to build an academy in Park Hall were discussed at a public meeting in the Bentilee Neighbourhood Centre last night.
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Mike Barnes
The authority has proposed building a facility on land off Dividy Road as part of its £250 million Building Schools for the Future programme. It would replace Edensor Technology College in Longton and Mitchell Business and Enterprise College in Bucknall and open in September 2011.
But fears were last night raised over traffic, dangerous roads and threat to wildlife.
Several councillors attended the meeting and used the battle to save Trentham High School – which has now been dropped from the programme – as means of inspiring other would-be campaigners.
Councillor Mike Barnes, the new Labour leader, told them: "Trentham showed that people power works. The louder you shout, the more chance you have got of changing what is going on out there."
And Councillor Terry Follows, who headed the battle to save the school, said: "You are no different to the people of Trentham – you all care about your child's education. Speak up now."
Closure notices have been published and families have six weeks to comment.
The city council has said it is willing to consider an alternative spot for the academy, as long as it is within a few hundred metres and meets the sponsor's approval.
People at the meeting suggested it could be sited at the current Mitchell site or on the site of Berry Hill High, which is due to close.
Speakers Barry Stockley, an adviser to MP Mark Fisher, and Terry Crowe, chairman of governors at Berry Hill, said the new school should be based in the community.
Campaigners already have a petition and are now planning to set up an online version.
7 Comments
by Chris, Newstead
Wednesday, May 20 2009, 8:00PM
“In defence of Mike Barns. I have had several conversations with him and he also signed the Stoke against academies petition that I put on line. Mikes biggest restriction was cllr Garner he held the whip and like to use it to her own ends. There is a Joy Garner who signed the petition but I'm told its not THE JOY GARNER.
Mitchell and Berryhill were part of the initial fight 18mths ago but for some reason stepped back. I wish them the best of luck and I'm more than willing to support there campaign just the same as I was an active member of TAG. The idea of building a school on the planned gas site is ridiculous, maybe some of the people who decided this would be a good idea should go and stand in the middle of the roundabout between 8am-9am and then tell us if pupils will be safe.
Mike congratulations on your leadership of the Labour Party. Just incase people are wondering I'm not a member of the Labour Party nor have I voted for them for many years just believe in giving credit were its due.
Check out the anti academies petition. petitions.number10.gov.uk/StokeAA/”
by Nicky, Trentham
Wednesday, May 20 2009, 7:46PM
“We know where there has been long term support for schools which suit communities, from Terry Follows and the CIG as well as other independent councillors and dare I say it the BNP (some people don't like them being given any credit but I'm not prejudiced). However if Mike Barnes and labour are now following that lead that is no bad thing. What is most important here is getting it right for the families and communities the school would serve. Virtually nobody wants this school on the gasometer site so put it where the communities agree it should go. But there is another issue too. I understood that Mitchell and Berry Hill don't want the new school to be an academy, so it's a good idea to shout about that too.”
by AW, Staffs
Wednesday, May 20 2009, 5:44PM
“Ian. If your quote from Cllr.Barnes is correct., about ' Major Decisions ' . Not only is it too little too late. They ' Labour ' can not keep " That " policy for 5 minutes. Is not the " BID for CITY of CULTURE " a " Major Decision " ?? or are they hoping as with BSF, to " Drag the People along with them "”
by ian norris, tunstall
Wednesday, May 20 2009, 5:11PM
“Cllr Barnes wants to "make sure that we (Labour) are listening to people from now on before we make major decisions, and not just dragging them along with us"
I'm sure many will believe this is too little, too late (18months too late)
as for the Deputy Cllr Knapper doesn't he represent the area what has he been doing, MMM agreeing to all the closures and the Park Hall site as an acadamy.
In the past Labour could fool the people, but happily that time is over and their current actions show them for what they are .......”
by David, Fenton
Wednesday, May 20 2009, 2:58PM
“The only word that comes to mind for those who have jumped on the band-wagon of the Trentham High crusade is; hypocrites. We all know the campaign to SAVE TRENTHAM HIGH was started by the parents/residents of Trentham and supported by Terry Fellows.
Barry Stockley is desperate to get his name linked with anything successful after years of mis-management of resources during the Cultural Quarter and Worldgate fiasco.
Mike Barnes has now destroyed democracy within this city and like Stockley has spotted an easy ride to success to support his claim for the leadership.
Democracy4Stoke should be Apark4Stoke! Unless you are all just a bunch of un-democratic hypocritical representatives.
Know what I mean?
Apark4Stoke@LUZ”
by christopher, longton
Wednesday, May 20 2009, 1:16PM
“instead of building a whole new school on the gas tank site,why dont they jus use the land of the old wilfield high school.its bin there for donkeys years,you've got the land already the council own it so why spend more money buildin a new school in an inapropiate place where there is already traffic problems before a school is built”
by AW, Staffs
Wednesday, May 20 2009, 10:32AM
“Many of your readers will be aware that Councillor Terry Follows has spent the past 18 months or so, fighting to retain a " Community " school in Trentham. And still it seems he continues that fight for other communities in the City. One must ask where have the likes of, Barnes, Stockley, Crowe, and other members of the Labour Party been during this time ?. May I suggest, keeping their heads down and mouths shut, while week in week out attacks were made on the letters page against the Trentham Action Group. Now they wish to hold them up as a beacon of hope. I wonder who will be accused of holding up the BSF programe now ?. Funny thing ' Politics ' !!.”