Witham MP Priti Patel has written to the new Secretary of State for Education, Lucy Powell MP, to demand that an urgent review is undertaken of the decision by her predecessor to cancel funding for the new Lodge FarmPrimary School and Nursery in Witham. The school was due to receive funds under plans agreed by the previous Conservative Government to support the expansion of school places to meet a growing population and as part of the Mulberries development contributions towards the cost and land was provided by the developer. Priti said:
“Labour’s decision to cancel funding for Lodge FarmPrimary School was a disgrace. Since coming to office two years ago, Labour plotted to take money away from our County and the former Secretary of State and her ministers could not even be bothered to meet with me to discuss this issue.”
“With a new Secretary of State in place, I am calling on her to urgently review this decision and to meet with me to discuss the need for Lodge Farm to be funded.”
“This decision must be reversed as it has left parents and families that have moved into the new development feeling anxious and with new housebuilding targets Witham will face a shortage in school places without Lodge Farm.”
