Liberal Democrats on North Yorkshire County Council have attacked the ruling Conservatives for placing a new housing development outside the catchment area for the obvious local school.

1200 new homes are to be built in Eastfield near Scarborough. This project has made the regeneration of the whole area a real possibility and the whole community has been involved in deciding just how that regeneration will take shape.

But the Council’s Children & Young People’s Directorate has decided to place the new development outside the catchment area for George Pindar Community Sports College (GPCSC). The ruling Tories seem to think that it would be better if local young people travel into Scarborough itself to attend both Graham & Raincliff schools.

A public consultation seeking opinions on Children & Young Persons Services in Eastfield and the new development published by the directorate left out the issue surrounding secondary school catchment areas. It focused only on primary provision.

Eastfield’s Liberal Democrat County Councillor Brian Simpson called this decision in for further scrutiny. However, at a special meeting yesterday the Tory-dominated Young People Overview & Scrutiny Committee voted to press ahead and ignore the question of secondary schooling. This is despite the Headteacher of George Pindar coming to the meeting to voice his concerns.

Cllr Simpson condemned the decision, saying:

“I fully support the consultation on Primary school provision, however I believe that by denying public consultation on secondary school provision the County Council is preventing the community from making its voice heard. By bringing the development into the catchment area of GPCSC, the County Council could have put community cohesion in Eastfield at the heart of the new development.”

“Instead the Tories seem to think it is better to have a divided community, with many young people travelling seven miles to schools in Scarborough.”