North Tyneside Council's full council meeting tonight saw public outcry after members voted to simply note a petition against the closure of High Borrans, rather than act on it. Campaigners from Friends of High Borrans attended the meeting to request a six-month pause before the closure, during which they would complete assessments on alternative proposals while keeping the centre open for the whole school year.
Campaigners' plea for a six-month pause
Campaigner and High Borrans volunteer Dan Dembry-Edwards told the meeting: "We therefore ask the council not to see this petition as a request to ignore financial realities, we are asking the council to recognise there is still an answer that has ot been fully answered. What could High Borrans look like if we were given six months to properly find out? We think this is a reasonable question to ask before an asset with this history, value and potential is closed."
Mr Dembry-Edwards stated that the Friends of High Borrans have already begun work to examine alternatives to shutting the centre down.
Cabinet member's response
After thanking the petitioners, cabinet member for education and inclusion Tracy Hallway said: "This decision must be about children and opportunity, not imply a name above one building. The facts are difficult but they cannot be ignored."
Coun Hallway stated that fewer than half of the schools in North Tyneside use High Borrans, instead using closer providers. She also said the centre loses £200,000 a year, requires £3m in maintenance, and has already seen £900,000 in investment from the council.
Vote and reaction
Following the debate, the council's Labour majority voted through to simply note the petition, rather than refer it back to the cabinet or the director of children's services. This was met with emotional outbursts from the public gallery, including cries of "shame on you".
Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service after the meeting, Dan Dembry-Edwards said: "I really think it is a disgraceful decision, that is the only word I can use."
Coun Rebecca O'Keefe, a Friends of High Borrans campaigner, added: "I am not shocked, but I really don't think that other Labour councillors would have come out and agreed with another option, it's disappointing. This is not the end, we will continue to work as a campaign team to look at alternatives."
