We need reassurance on plan (From Ilkley Gazette)

We need reassurance on plan

1:55pm Thursday 3rd June 2010 in Letters

Every government promises to bring down the welfare bill, every government promises better value for money, and every government promises reform of public services. In that sense there was nothing new with this Queens Speech.

However, there are a few things that could have a direct and immediate impact on Ilkley. The Decentralisation and Localism Bill that was announced promises to devolve greater powers to council and neighbourhoods and give local communities control over housing and planning decisions. This should allow the residents of Ilkley to have the final say on Tesco and all the other planning issues that currently vex people here (including the siting of Ilkley Brewery and Coronation Hospital ).

The Academies Bill throws up more questions than answers. This allows for more schools to become academies including, for the first time, primary schools. But it also removes the power of local authorities to veto new schools paving the way for Michael Goves’ Swedish-style “free schools” which may be run by parents, charities or private companies. Whilst this may be some people’s solutions to getting the “school of choice”, it is very arbitary.

The review on the previous Government’s contracts has now thrown open to question whether the £337million funding for the refurbishing or rebuilding of secondary schools in Bradford Disctrict will now go ahead. Instead this may well go towards supporting the new “free schools”.

Whatever the government decided, some early reassurance about the future of Ilkley Grammar School, and the promised new building, should be sought.

Jane Thomas

Keighley and Ilkey Labour Party