Wokingham Tories mis-led Government about secret Plans to sell off Emmbrook School (Wokingham Liberal Democrats)

Wokingham Liberal Democrats <info@wokinghamlibdems.org.uk>

Wokingham Tories mis-led Government about secret Plans to sell off Emmbrook School

April 23, 2003 12:00 AM

Wokingham Liberal Democrats are furious that the Tory administration has misled the Government about their secret plans to sell off Emmbrook School.

Councillor Alan Spratling (Leader of the Liberal Democrat Councillor Group) said, "The Tories have told the Government that 'the opposition party has also been fully briefed on the proposals'. This is completely untrue, as nobody has breathed a word of this disgraceful Tory plan to us. Although the bid to Government was submitted in January, the Liberal Democrats only found out about this secret Tory plan last week. This is such a serious breach of faith that I have formally complained to the Council in the hopes that the necessary disciplinary action will be taken against the Tory administration."

Tina Marinos (Lib Dem Councillor for Evendons ward) said, "It's bad enough finding out that the Tories plan to sell off Emmbrook School in secret, but to then discover that the Tories have misled the Government into thinking the Lib Dems knew all about their secret dealings is an added insult. It just shows how low the Tories will stoop to bludgeon their plans through."

Jo Shockley (Lib Dem candidate for Emmbrook ward) said, "The Tory plan to sell off Emmbrook School and cram more and more pupils into The Holt School, Forest School and Maiden Erleigh School seems to be based on how much money they can make from selling off the Emmbrook site rather than how we can best educate our children. The Tories have lost sight of what is important to Wokingham District's residents. I know our community would prefer to see our children properly educated rather than hundreds more houses being built on school land."