As the portfolio holder responsible, can I correct a number of factual errors in the reporting of the situation regarding the Colchester secondary schools reorganisation?

1) The position of the cabinet and the council, as shown in council records of December 2008, is, “the council welcomes the announcement that £100million will be invested in the town’s secondary school education”, although with some reservations.

2) Therefore, the position of the cabinet and the council in respect of the schools reorganisation is still to support option 4, under which both Alderman Blaxill and Thomas Lord Audley schools are closed, while operating as a single Stanway School, initially, over three sites. Again, as clearly set out in last December’s full council meeting.

3) During, and since, the consultation, Essex County Council has made clear the closure of the two schools and the opening of an academy to replace Sir Charles Lucas Arts College would go ahead regardless of whether or not the bid for (£130million) investment across Colchester was successful.

4) No formal decision has been reached on any proposal to lease land to enable better access to Philip Morant School. The likelihood is that any decision will be considered by the full council in due course.

What is described in the press as being the council position appears to be a policy statement by the Liberal Democrat group.

Tina Dopson
Portfolio Holder for
Performance and Partnerships
Colchester Borough Council

...Oh no, not another picture of Dave Harris posturing outside the Thomas Lord Audley School. Dave has done tremendous work for the residents of Berechurch and I’d be the last person to discredit him. However, on his position regarding the £5million on offer from the county council, for a site off Norman Way, I must come down on the side of councillor Ann Turrell.

Councillor Turrell and councillor Harris were both elected to represent the views of their respective constituents. It is well known the vast majority of Dave Harris’s voters were opposed to the closure of Alderman Blaxill and the Thomas Lord Audley schools.

Sound economic proposals were put forward and democratically voted on as an alternative to closure by the county council.

As with other proposals put to the Chelmsfordbased Essex council, these alternative proposals have fallen on deaf ears and we are left to suffer the consequences.

What must be remembered is the closure of these schools and the inevitable upheaval caused to the communities will never be compensated for, no matter how much money is offered.

What I may suggest to Councillor Harris is that he rejoins the ranks of those opposed to these dreadful closures and not utter sweet music to the Chelmsford bureaucrats!

Colin Mudie
Mersea Road
Colchester