Villagers cast votes in schools referendum

VILLAGERS backing a campaign to save two schools from closure have turned out in force to vote during the first day of a referendum, writes the WMN's Ryan Hooper.

Residents of St Tudy and St Mabyn in North Cornwall are adamant their two Church of England schools will not be amalgamated on to one site, possibly at nearby Longstone.

Villagers fear Cornwall Council could merge the two schools to deal with the Government's concerns surrounding falling school admissions.

Parents, residents and supporters carrying banners opposing the amalgamation queued at ballot boxes to cast their votes on Wednesday.

Matt Slater, chairman of the St Tudy and St Mabyn Community Action Group, said he was delighted with the number of people who turned out to support the referendum launch. He said: "We had a great turnout of people from both villages who have vowed to support our campaign.

"We didn't just have families or parents, we also had plenty of support from older people.

"We didn't want to make this political, we just thought the best way to fight bureaucracy was with bureaucracy, which is why we are holding the referendum."

The village of St Tudy is synonymous with fighting back, after one of its famous sons, Captain Bligh, was immortalised in the Mutiny on the Bounty saga on the high seas more than 200 years ago.

Ballot papers have been sent to homeowners across the area, with voting open until November 27.

The ballot boxes will then collected and sent to the Electoral Reform Society in London, before the result is announced.

Campaigners have also turned to the Internet to help garner support for their cause, which they hope will strengthen the case for keeping both schools open.

The membership of their group on the social networking site Facebook, entitled Hands Off Our Schools, yesterday passed the 200 mark.

North Cornwall MP Dan Rogerson also pledged his support to campaigners.

He said: "It's clear from the conversations I've had with parents that the council's favoured solution of opening a school outside both villages is simply not acceptable to either community."

Mr Slater said pinpointing falling class sizes as a reason to close the schools was particularly ridiculous given the new affordable homes recently built in the St Mabyn area.

A spokesman for Cornwall Council said: "The aim of the council is to provide the highest possible quality of education for children in St Tudy and St Mabyn in the best possible buildings and it would be wrong not to look at every available option to help achieve this aim.

"However, no decisions have been made with regard to new school buildings and all parents and carers will be closely involved in all discussions on the future of the schools well in advance of any decision as to the best outcome for the communities."