The Big Give Away

Statement from NAME


We couldn’t make it up. Under plans to be revealed on Wednesday, West Sussex County Council will announce its intention to hand over the land and buildings on the Midhurst Intermediate School and Midhurst Grammar School River sites to a charity, United Learning Trust, as soon as this summer. These are assets paid for out of your council taxes, yet ULT will be allowed to sell off the River site and keep the cash! This scheme bears all the hallmarks of other rushed privatisations. Like Railtrack, this can only end in disaster.



You might not like the way that West Sussex County Council have run Rother Valley schools, but at least in theory you could vote them out: you get the council you elect. However if WSCC washes its hands of the schools, they will be beyond the electorate’s control for good. In a desperate bid to gain disappearing funding, West Sussex intend to open the new Academy on the existing MIS and MGS sites in September 2008, as a temporary measure before a new school is built. New ownership – same old buildings. We say why not wait and fund the school rebuild out of the public purse, retaining democratic control over the use of our taxes.



NAME have consistently argued that the ‘consultation’ is anything but a serious effort on County’s part to gain the public’s views. Sadly this view has been confirmed this week by West Sussex’s refusal to abide by its outcome, merely to ‘have regard for views expressed’. However, we urge everybody to attend the meetings, return the forms and let West Sussex County Council know that Rother Valley residents will not see their heritage, their taxes and their democratic influence thrown away in this manner.



E-mail Robert.Back@westsussex.gov.uk and Mark.Dunn@westsussex.gov.uk and share your views!