It is with great sadness that I realise that there is no alternative to Hope Schools closure. The lack of affordable family housing in our very rural areas is driving families away from their roots – even when they work locally or have child care locally. The numbers of children attending Hope school are no longer financially viable.
The real issue now is the sustainability of Hope and Bentlawnt. This closure is the final straw for the Shop and Post Office which will now close on January 4th as the daily parent trade has now ceased. The Post Office is trying to find alternative ways to deliver their services in this remote area which has some of the highest snow fall in Shropshire – even when the rest of us have none. The shop was the life line for many when cut off.
I would make a plea that rural communities sustainability must now be made a priority for the council if we are to keep the rest of our village schools viable, balance the generations in the settlements, provide housing for key workers – including carers- and this will then reduce travel costs for many service areas in Shropshire Council. Our rural areas face a bleak future if we do no heed this.
Regards
Heather Kidd
Member for Chirbury and Worthen
Shropshire Council