Hartlepool Borough Council writes to the Government in battle to open new primary school
Councillors have written to the Government to support an appeal for a new primary school on the outskirts of Hartlepool.
A project to deliver St Joseph’s Church of England Primary School, in Wynyard, has been planned since 2016 and has been described by residents as “vital to meeting both current and future demand”.
The school has recently been placed on a list of projects that the Government is “minded to cancel”.
An appeal was subsequently lodged over the decision ahead of the January 30 deadline, with submissions from Hartlepool MP Jonathan Brash, Melrose Learning Trust, which would run the school, Hartlepool Borough Council and the two Wynyard Parish Councils.
At the latest full borough council meeting, councillors unanimously agreed to write a “cross party” letter to education secretary Bridget Phillipson to support the campaign for the school.
This has now been handed over by Mr Brash.
The letter was proposed by Labour’s Councillor Melanie Morley, chair of the council’s children’s services committee, as an amendment to an initial motion on the issue by Councillor Mike Young, who represents Reform UK.
Cllr Morley praised the “phenomenal” work of those who have been “working tirelessly” to challenge the decision, including Mr Brash, the children’s services team, parish councils and planning committee chair Councillor Moss Boddy.
A petition launched by the parish councils calling for the appeal to succeed has passed 1,000 signatures.
Mr Brash also attended, along with Cllr Morley and Cllr Boddy, a community meeting hosted in collaboration with Wynyard Parish Councils last month.
Labour representatives noted this was not attended by Cllr Young and they accused him of not contacting them prior to the deadline to appeal the decision.
Cllr Young said no Rural West ward councillors attended as they “felt it might get political” and he had spoken with council officers beforehand.
He added: “We’ve got to get this school back on the map.”
Mr Brash, speaking at the full council meeting, said: “Let me be absolutely clear: I support this school.
“It is needed and the minded to cancel decision is wrong.
“The appeal itself is clear and compelling.”
He argued there are “around 860 more pupils” who could benefit from the school than Department for Education officials anticipated when they made their decision.