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'Must do better'

Laura Kenny
20/ 3/2008

COUNCIL chiefs have admitted that a consultation into the proposed relocation of two academy schools was incomplete and flawed.

Manchester City Council has dramatically scrapped the current consultation into the proposed siting of two Creative and Media academies in Blackley following a furious backlash from residents.

More than 600 protestors signed a petition opposing the closing of North Manchester High Schools for Boys and for Girls and their replacement with two academies on woodland off Victoria Avenue East.

A letter, signed by all three Charlestown councillors and Blackley MP Graham Stringer, reveals that a new consultation has been ordered by Manchester City Council boss Sir Richard Leese and the Executive Member for Childrens’ Services, Councillor Sheila Newman.

It states: "We have reflected on what residents have had to say and have come to the conclusion that the consultation process has been incomplete and flawed. Therefore, we have asked Councillors Leese and Newman to scrap the current consultation and start again, with far more information available to residents and an opportunity for everyone who wishes to question council officers and to submit their views."

Blackley MP Graham Stringer, who handed over the residents’ petition to Manchester City Council’s chief executive Sir Howard Bernstein, said he had been deeply annoyed at the consultation process which was originally set up to site the new academy on the existing North Manchester High School for Boys site.

He said: "I have checked the basis on which the city council started its consultation on this matter and it is clear that the only site mentioned for the academies was the current site of North Manchester High School for Boys.

"I have therefore written to the city council and asked if it is proper to be even considering the site off Victoria Avenue East when it was not in the original consultation."

Mr Stringer added that the council’s Building Schools for the Future programme, which will seven business backed academies open across the city, was a ‘once in a generation’ opportunity.

He said: "Everyone’s in favour of better and better built schools but the way the consultation took place mean't a lot of people had become very concerned about the process.

"There needs to be a proper consultation that looks at where the best sites are across Manchester."

Just weeks ago hundreds of campaigners staged a ‘green’ protest against plans to site the two campus academy on woodland they claimed was a wildlife haven and too close to four blocks of flats largely inhabited by elderly people.

Margaret Martin, one of the organisers of the Charlestown Council and Private Residents Association, responded cautiously to the announcement of the new consultation stating: "Well it is a start."

It is understood that the Council’s Executive Committee will discuss the new consultation on 26 March 2008.