Opposition grows to plans to close Shropshire schools

The county council wants to close 22 small primary schools because of falling roll numbers and costs.

Jill Groves is a vicar and a governor at Rushbury Church of England Primary School.

She said England was heading for an irreversible social change if the schools were closed.

Beeching cuts

"I think we are talking about something on the magnitude of the axing of branch railway lines by Dr Beeching in the 60s. It's that kind of level of importance," she said.

She said councillors and MPs should be demanding more financial help from the government for Shropshire children to prevent the closure of any of the county's schools.

"If we have a national average of funding per child we would not need to close any of these schools," she added.

The county council said the cuts would save about �733,000 in the first year and �1.8m in the second.

Public consultations are from 4 February to 18 April with a final decision being taken in July 2008.