Email to all County Councillors from County Councillor Keith Morgan (Liberal Democrat) Hipper Division, Chesterfield.

(by Webmaster <info@stoneymiddletonparishcouncil.org.uk> on 24th November 2006)

I travel regularly through Stoney Middleton on my way to Manchester and yesterday on my way through I slowed down, particularly to examine this route: (the proposed walking route for the children). I have not yet taken a position on this but I have to say that

a) it is a long way for small children to walk

b) the road is very dangerous and why would we want to put children in harm's way?

c) the road has to be crossed at least twice ( possibly more-it is not easy to determine by car) because of the fact that there is only a footpath on one side of the road

d) being selfish (or realistic) would I let my children walk along there to school - even though they are now aged 30 and 28 !!!! --- No I wouldn't, and that is probably the acid test for councillors. Would you let your nearest and dearest walk this length with these dangers every day? Perhaps all the Council should actually walk the route? Perhaps this is an issue for the Lead Member to consider. Select a day for us all to attend and for ALL councillors to walk it??

e) As a local politician, I am used to stretching the pounds and making one pound do the job of two but there must be a solution to this problem WITHOUT insisting that the children walk to school. Suggested thoughts off the top of my head: -

· status quo -- don't close the school, (probably not do-able);

· federate the school with Calver ensuring that there is one head only for a split site school and if necessary, teachers travel;

· if the school is closed County supplies a mini-bus daily from Stoney Middleton to Calver like it does from Walton to Holymoorside (not environmentally friendly but safer and better than a dozen cars doing it;

· parents form a trust into which they pay purely for the financing of bus hire and they hire a bus charging anyone who rides. It would probably make it's own profit and soon stand alone as the wonderful North East Derbyshire Music Centre did when the County withdrew all funding some fifteen years ago. It now flourishes, stronger than it ever did under County management;

· councillors be aware that in closing the school in a semi-remote village; they actually do more than close the school. It is not like re-organisation in Chesterfield (1991) where communities were much less at risk by re-organisation because of economics. Many of us fought hard (and without success) against the closure of mines, not simply to save jobs but because the local communities were at risk when they went. Many of these remote villages are still desolate and poverty stricken. Are we saying that current political policies are travelling the same route? I leave members and readers to answer that question.

f) having talked through this issue on email with colleagues, it seems that this is not simply a "close" "don't close" issue; it is a severe case of problem solving. There is no easy answer: there never is in politics although the Daily Mail headlines would have you believe otherwise!!!) but I am rapidly coming to the view that whatever the decisions of the controlling group, I would not let my children walk this route. But that is not the same as keeping the school open in its present form; but it is not the same as closure either!

Kind Regards to all,

Hope my comments contribute to the difficult and controversial discussions which continue;

Cllr. Keith Morgan (Liberal Democrat)

Hipper Division, Chesterfield.

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