Clegg backs move to save school

Protesters say their children are happy at the school

The leader of the Liberal Democrats has backed a campaign to try to save a south Shropshire school.

Nick Clegg visited the Lydbury North School, near Bishops Castle, which the Conservative-led county council want to merge with nearby Clunbury School.

He said closing Lydbury would "rip the heart out of the local community" and he urged campaigners "not to give up".

Ann Hartley, cabinet member for children's services said it was not a political issue.

"The education of our children is what is important and politics should not be involved. Cabinet will listen to the points raised by scrutiny and review the decision," she said.

The plan, which will be discussed on 25 June, is part of a review of primary schools across the county.

Formal consultation on merging 14 other schools in the county is underway, with a final decision expected at the end of July.

Council chiefs have said the measures are necessary to cope with falling pupil numbers.

'No sense'

But a scrutiny committee meeting earlier this week urged the county council to look again at plans to merge Lydbury North and Clunbury primary schools.

Mr Clegg said although Lydbury North had only 42 pupils, issues such as its "excellent" education record and community impact must be considered.

He said: "It has 42 pupils of which 21 - exactly half - walk to school.

"So what's going to happen when they have to decamp to another site?

"Get in their car, and petrol's expensive, and clog up the beautiful lanes in this part of Shropshire which will be bad for the environment.

"It makes no sense."

He urged campaigners to continue their fight and to show county councillors the "strength of their feeling".

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