The bells rang out in Lydbury North on Wednesday afternoon as news that, finally, it has been decided the village’s primary school should stay open and independent.
The decision was taken by Shropshire County Council cabinet members after a proposal by Cllr Ann Hartley, architect of the abortive schools closure policy, not to proceed with the option of closing Lydbury North and send its pupils to Clunbury instead.
County councillor for the area Nigel Hartin was delighted with the decision. He said: “The Conservative majority claimed it was because they wished to wait for the outcome of the independent policy review study coming out next summer.
“I am very hopeful this is the end of the matter,” he added. “Things will revert to the status quo with the schools staying in their communities.”
District councillor Heather Kidd, who has championed Lydbury North from the start was delighted. She said: “I am really pleased for Lydbury North,” she said. “After this long fight and all the pain they suffered they now get to face the future and go forward for the best interests of everyone.”
Councillor Ann Hartley, Cabinet member for children’s services, said: “It is clear there are a lot of issues surrounding these proposals and, after listening to the arguments for and against, Cabinet has agreed not to proceed with amalgamation at this time.
“Cabinet members thought it was in the best interests of both schools and pupils to await the findings of the independent policy commission in June,” added Cllr Hartley.
• The proposed federation of the two schools was abandoned when the governors of Clunbury said they did not wish to do this – agreement from both schools was vital for the plan to go ahead.
