Pupils walk out in protest to merger

12:40pm Thursday 24th April 2008

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RESIDENTS who want to see Earlestown Town Hall restored have collected 2,000 signatures on a petition to save it.

Earlestown Town Hall Action Group met with Clr Suzanne Knight outside St Helens' Town Hall last week to present her with a petition of 1,837 residents' signatures in favour of preserving the town hall.

The future of the historical hall, built 116 years ago, has been in doubt for several years.

Clr Knight said: "Why should we make decisions without the people affected? It's up to the residents to have their say.

"We are talking to the PCT about using the town hall, we just can't keep that building open being used five or six times a week. We need something in there to secure the long term future."

The group has been advised to wait for the outcome of a structural survey, but has hired a solicitor to look at the building's original lease to see what developments are available for the town hall.HUNDREDS of pupils from St Aelred's Catholic Technology College staged a walk out' protest against the proposed £33m Newton Academy.

Pupils failed to return to classes last Thursday afternoon to mark their disapproval against the plans to merge their school with Newton High School.

The peaceful protest took place on the nearby fields, where pupils remained until the end of the school day.

Children aged 11 to 18 from the Birley Street school who are angry about the council's plans to merge the schools in 2011 were at no point asked to end their protest and return to lessons.

Final decisions about the whether the plans for the joint faith academy are expected to be heard in June.

The pupils' protest fell at the end of St Helens Council's six-week consultation period over the closure of the schools.

If the plans go ahead the new academy would be built on the site of Newton High School and would cater for 1,650 pupils.

A council spokesman said: "There was a peaceful protest at St Aelred's today, Thursday, when some pupils wished to register their objection to proposals for the new academy.

"The executive head teacher met with a small delegation of pupils to listen to their views and they were given e-mail access to send their views to the school organisation and forward planning manager at the council.

"At no time did anyone demand that they return to lessons and at no point were pupils refused the chance to sign the petition.

He added: "The police were not called."