MP wins Commons debate over threat to close school

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 22nd Oct 2007

The future of Alderman Blaxill School in Colchester - which Essex County Council wants to shut - is to be debated in the House of Commons on Monday 22nd October.

The town's MP, Bob Russell, has secured what is known as an Adjournment Debate to highlight the closure proposal.

Liberal Democrat Mr Russell will argue against the plan by the Tory-controlled County Council which wants to shut the Alderman Blaxill Secondary School on the town's Shrub End Estate and merge it with the Thomas Lord Audley Secondary School at Monkwick.

The County wants instead to build a 1,200 pupil Academy on the Monkwick site.

There is considerable opposition in Shrub End to close Alderman Blaxill School. Campaigners are hoping to repeat their success of 15 years ago when they blocked a previous attempt by the County Hall Tories to shut the school.