COUNCIL chiefs at Warrington have been urged to look again at the controversial decision to close Longbarn Primary School.
The borough council’s Children, Young People and Skills Overview and Scrutiny Committee has referred the issue back to the executive board.
Scrutiny members heard representations from opponents of the closure and from Coun Sheila Woodyatt, executive member for Children’s Services, at a meeting which lasted just short of four hours.
Afterwards, scrutiny chairman Coun Sue Dodd said: “We heard very good presentations from both sides and decided the executive board had not heard enough detail to give due weight to all aspects of the decision.
“It was clear the campaigners who want to keep the school open had very strong feelings.
“But our decision does not mean the closure decision has been reversed. The final decisions are still for the executive board and the council to make.
“Several members of the executive were at the meeting so have heard the arguments for and against in full.”
Coun Dodd said the fact the committee had sat for almost four hours was an indication of the serious way members had considered the issues.
The executive was split when it decided last month to close Longbarn Primary because of dwindling numbers of pupils.
Only six of the 10-strong board voted to press ahead with the closure, with councillors Sharon Wilson and Bob Timmis opposing the move and Alan Litton and Liz Smith abstaining.
If the executive board decides to reaffirm its previous decision, Longbarn will close in 12 months’ time.
