Angry Parents to stand in County Council Elections

Polling Station Sign - Photo: Adam Tinworth

Angry parents of Tamworth are to make a stand against the County Council this June by standing against them in the County Elections.

Hands of our Tamworth Schools (HOTS) will be standing a full slate of candidates this June 4th. Each candidate being a local parent who is opposed to the changes being made to the towns secondary schools.

The plans as reported in an earlier article are part of Staffordshire County Councils Building Schools for the Future (BSF) involves turning Woodhouse High School into an academy for further education and closing the remaining secondary schools sixth form facilities.

HOTS, a campaigning body setup by Tamworth parents has been setup to campaign against the changes proposed by the Borough Council.  They have already successfully seen the County Council abandon plans to close Queen Elizabeth’s Mercian School.  But this new plan has stirred more anger and campaigners are taking this step to try and gain a voice within the County.

Rob Marsden, candidate for Stoneydelph, says:

“There is huge public opposition to these plans, as well as from the teaching unions which are currently engaged in industrial action against the effects of loss of Sixth-Forms and against Woodhouse being handed, lock, stock and barrel, to the private sector.

We have nine months of solid, determined campaigning behind us. We have had a huge amount of local and national press, radio and TV coverage, and our views strike a chord with many people in Tamworth. We don’t have wealthy backers or the resources of the main parties but we will be emptying our coffers to try to get a leaflet to every family in the town.”

Stephen Ferry, candidate for Bolebridge adds:

“We have said all along that the people of Tamworth deserve a vote on this vital issue but this has been denied us by the County Council. We, therefore, have no option but to turn the County elections in Tamworth into a referendum on the schools issue.”

Other candidates representing HOTS include, Local Mom Carolyn Lang (Perrycrofts),Brian Morris (Watling South,) Vicky Sanford (Amington) and Sue Phipps (Watling North).