News
06/07/2010
Statement on decision to axe Building Schools for the Future
In light of yesterday's decision by the government to axe the Building Schools for the Future funding for Kirklees, Mike Wood said:
"This is a devastating, cruel decision.
All the money, work and time that have gone into this project have been wasted and the hopes of thousands of children, parents and teachers have been cynically dashed.
"This throws the schools situation in Batley and Cleckheaton into chaos and it will mean much needed improvements to primary schools in Cleckheaton, Hightown and East Bierley now won't happen.
"I hope Kirklees can recover something from the plans and I hope the government's disregard for schools and education will not mean an end to the whole scheme, but it looks very bleak for the 20 or so schools that were going to be rebuilt and improved.
"I shall be pressing the council to fight this and to take advice on pursuing legal action against the government.
"Ironically, if the Conservative group had been able to make a decision on BSF when they ran Kirklees Council up until last year then a lot of these projects would now be up and running and safe from these cuts."
