In a piece I wrote this summer, I highlighted the plight of St. Brigids school in Denbigh. The local Denbighshire council had announced plans to close it and merge it with another school by closing that school as well. They had planned to build a new one for reasons which nobody understood then and nobody understands now.
I'm delighted to report that the sheer volume of people who got behind this fight have seen the council off. They have just announced that they have shelved those plans due to the strength of opposition. This is a classic example of how localism can beat the big boys as long as everyone sticks together and puts on a united front.
The staff at St. Brigids who fought so hard to make this happen deserve special praise. This is what happems when a community closes ranks against the local government machine. The use of social media played a huge part and it was nice to see this happening in my home town.
The issue at stake here was faith schools. The council was determined to close two of them and make access to a new one even more difficult. As odd as it may seem to them, faith is really important for youngsters. Whether they choose to embrace it in later life is a matter for them but they can at least benefit from its basic messages in their formative years. This has been a victory for common sense, localism and true community spirit. A hearty well done to all concerned.
For their part, the council will need to come up with slightly less cynical ways to make cost savings. When we make cost savings, the process usually starts at home. I don't see why it should be any different for them. Judging by the high number of cars I see every day at the huge Council Offices, it seems as though they have room for maneouvre on their nown door step. Not that I expect them to consider that possibility for a second...
No comments:
Post a Comment