Legal action threat in bid to save Stiperstones school

Campaigners fighting to save a Shropshire primary school today warned that they would take legal action against Shropshire Council if it decides to close the school down.

Parents of children at Stiperstones CE School, near Shrewsbury, claim that the authority's consultation document is littered with mistakes and warned that the consultation process was not valid.

Faye Moore, from the school's steering group, said parents had received their consultation letter dated March 2, which she said was less than the statutory minimum of six weeks required by law. The consultation period ended yesterday.

The Save Stiperstones School Steering Group's formal response submitted to education chiefs yesterday, says: "The steering group has concerns about the consultation process undertaken by Shropshire Council to date and if the proposal to close Stiperstones School does continue into the statutory consultation period then we shall seek legal advice."

Mrs Moore today said she hoped the document, together with a demonstration the school held outside the Shirehall yesterday, would persuade council officials to change their mind.

The school is one of eight county primary schools, together with the Wakeman secondary school in Shrewsbury, facing closure.

But David Taylor, from Shropshire Council, today said the consultation was for six term-time weeks, in accordance with Government guidelines.