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On the death of Beechdown
Primary School
The Hampshire Tories have got their way with the
final decision to close Beechdown School being made at a meeting of the Schools Organisation Committee in Winchester on
Friday 18th October 2002.
In a move condemned by the vast majority of Basingstoke councillors and the
public at large, the four constituent bodies: Hampshire County Council, The
Church of England, The Catholic Church and the School Governing Body, all voted
unanimously in favour of the closure. A fifth body, The Learning and Skills
Council, did not vote.
Brighton Hill schools have suffered badly as a result of autocratic decisions by
Hampshire County Council, first with the catchment area of Brighton Hill School
being drawn away from Brighton Hill to suit Tory voters in Hatch Warren, now
with this decision to close a good school which had the misfortune to suffer a
serious fire. And all for the sake of an opportunity to make £5million from the
sale of land and £2million from the insurance.
Why is it that a single Executive Member on Hampshire County Council can make
such a far-reaching decision and not be held to account over it?
The message from the Tories to the working-class residents of Basingstoke is
clear:
"unless you live in a Tory area we don't care what you think:
if we want to close your local school, we will".
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