Schools adjudicator now has final say in Middleton

At a meeting of the School's Organisation Committee, the future of Alkrington Moss Primary School in Middleton is now looking brighter.  The majority decision of the Committee was to keep the school open for the foreseeable future.  Cllr. David Clayton, Portfolio Holder for Children's, Schools and Families said: "The procedure in the school's Reorganisation Committee is a strange one.  Our Councillors had to come to a unanimous decision across all parties; I am delighted to announce that the Liberal Democrats were finally backed by Labour in making this decision.  This is a U-turn from Labour's previous decision to close the school, made at a Cabinet Meeting earlier this year.  Unfortunately, the Conservative Member of the Committee was unable to attend and show support for a school that plays such a vital role in Middleton life.
 
"The decision just goes to show the positive impact a Liberal Democrat Administration is already having in Middleton.  The decisions that were made last night will have to be approved by an independent adjudicator, because other sections of the LEA had a vote as well.  I can assure residents that I will be writing to the adjudicator with a firm commitment to keep Alkrington Moss School open.  We were asked by the Labour Party to take the first opportunity keep our Manifesto Commitment and actually listen to residents who have previously been shunned by Labour, and we have done so.  I would like to make it quite clear that the Labour Party have behaved atrociously in the whole episode.  Let me make this quite clear if the Council hadn't changed hands, Alkrington Moss Primary School would now be closing in keeping with Labour's previous decision, thankfully for the people of Middleton this was not the case.  The Labour Party must replace their politics of hypocrisy with honesty about education for Middleton pupils."
 
Middleton East Liberal Democrat Councillor, Irene Cooper said: "I am happy that this decision has been made and we await the decision of the independent adjudicator.  I hope that that they listen to the elected representatives of this town and make the sensible decision.  School closures are always emotional and this has been a hard fought campaign, I feel that as a result of this meeting we have moved one step nearer to saving Alkrington Moss."