Wokingham Lib Dems Slam Tories for Secrecy Surrounding Emmbrook School Relocation Plan
November 25, 2005 12:00 AM
Liberal Democrat Councillors are slamming the Conservatives for hiding their plans for Emmbrook School behind a cloak of secrecy. It has now come to light that in addition to the Tory plan to relocate the Emmbrook School to another part of the District and to provide a vocational centre on the Emmbrook site, they have plans to build a special school for children with emotional and behavioural difficulties and plans for a Pupil Referral Unit for children with behaviour and attendance problems on part of the Emmbrook School site.
Councillor Beth Rowland (Lib Dem spokesperson for Education and Councillor of Southlake ward) said, "Two years ago the Tories denied they had any plans to relocate Emmbrook School. They even had the gall to accuse the Lib Dems of scaremongering when we challenged them about it. Now it appears that they've been planning this behind everyone's backs all along.
"Now we discover that the Tory plans also include building a Pupil Referral Unit and a special school on part of the Emmbrook School site. The Tories had censored that part of their bid for government funding but the DfES was happy to send us a copy of the complete Tory bid for this project. Why are the Tories being so coy about their plans? Why did they want to hide this from the public?"
Councillor Prue Bray (Deputy Leader of the Lib Dem Group and Councillor of Winnersh ward) said, "It's appalling that the Lib Dems have had to find out what the Tories are up to by asking the DfES for the information. It's about time they came clean on their plans so that a meaningful consultation can take place.
"I know the Tories will be furious that we've got this information. They should be ashamed of themselves for shrouding this hugely important matter in a cloak of secrecy. They've only got themselves to blame that they've been found out."
Councillor Bray added, "This bid is a public document and we all have a right to this information. "
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