THE council has been criticised for using a little-known law to stop justice4georges schoolgirls from protesting in town hall grounds - claiming it could favour a political party during election time.
The St George’s RC High School pupils, who have never sided with any political party, along with a teaching assistant dressed up as their school’s namesake had intended to ride a horse down to Swinton Civic Centre and hand out red roses to councillors.
The protest was the girls’ latest stunt in a long-running campaign against council plans to close their school. They say it was organised because some council leaders had failed to respond to invitations to attend school council meetings.
However, the day before the protest - which was to take place St George’s Day - the council’s solicitor contacted the school and warned them from going on to council property.
In a letter, solicitor Anthony Rich states the event was designed to draw attention to a ‘politically controversial issue’ and ‘promotes or opposes a point of view....which is identifiable as the view of one party but not the other.’
He also says the council cannot publish anything ‘designed to affect public support for a political party’, although he admits the ‘concept of publishing is given a very wide definition’.
The council refused to be drawn on what action they would have taken if the girls had ignored the lawyer’s warning.
The girls and assistant Kathy Morse ended up leaving the horse at the Walkden school and demonstrating on the pavement outside the civic centre where they were beeped by passing drivers.
They were watched over by a policewoman who when offered a rose, told the girls she had to remain independent.
Becky Traynor, from the justice group, said: "Why don’t they want to meet us? This seems very heavy-handed."
Fellow group member Heather Ennis added: "The council seem to be paranoid, they don’t want to speak to St George’s pupils."
Pete Fisher, deputy headteacher at the school, said: "This was not a political event.A group of four schoolgirls wanted to hand in a box of red roses to the council.
"In a further attempt to make contact with the council the girls have invited Cllr Merry and Cllr Warmisham to school council meetings and they have not received any response to their letters."
Mr Rich said: "This issue was not as simple as students wishing to celebrate St George’s Day at the town hall but was quite clearly intended to be part of the school’s campaign against its proposed closure.
"That the school had contacted the media about its proposal, but not the council, underlines this fact.
"The Local Government Act 1986 sets out what councils can and cannot do during a pre-election period and it is quite clear that the council would be acting unlawfully if it accommodated or gave permission for the school to attend.
"Quite simply, the council would be breaching the rules on strict neutrality during an election.
"The law does not allow the civic centre (or any other council facilities or resources) to be used in a way which could be seen as a political act."
Click on the video window for Channel M's report ...
Showing comments 1 to 10 and replies | View All
Richard Carvath (24/04/2008 at 15:19)
Steve M (24/04/2008 at 20:46)
Using the excuse of the law like this is a smokescreen to hide their cowardice.
Baz, Salford (25/04/2008 at 09:02)
What a load of tosh! Of course it was political and shame on you Mr Deputy Headteacher for claiming anything else.
I don't want any successful school to close down without good reason but this campaign is getting dirty and with the full biased support of the Advertiser will ensure that the council dig in their heels.
Besides its not an little-known law. Anyone who organises events for the council during election run up must ensure that it is politically neutral.
Brian F Kirkham (25/04/2008 at 14:15)
Then - proposals for closure were rubber stamped by councillors on governing bodies acting for the Local Authority
Nothing was said in protest as St Lawerences swallowed up both Cathedral & Pope John Paul one by one leading to a chaotic sitation as a superschool was created at one site (the Business College)
And now the council, want their paws on St Georges?
suddenly there's cries of
injustice!!!
Perhaps Mr Merry/Ms Garrido would like to direct their respective ideas as to some positive moves for catholic schools in the area before always considering closure.
Teressa Jen Huzof (25/04/2008 at 19:13)
Iain Lindley, Walkden (25/04/2008 at 21:43)
The vast majority of St George's pupils come from Little Hulton and north Walkden. The school provides a first-class education for pupils from some of the most deprived areas of the City.
In any case, what difference does it make where the school is? It's an excellent, oversubscribed school at the heart of the local community - something worth preserving regardless of how affluent the surroundings are, surely?
Dennis the Menace, Hyde (28/04/2008 at 01:45)
VOTE LABOUR OUT OF OFFICE AT THIS WEEKS LOCAL ELECTIONS !!!!
Baz, Salford (29/04/2008 at 11:33)
Brian F Kirkham (30/04/2008 at 13:50)
I was present (as a pupil) at a pupil meeting many years ago when the last DSC made a decision of this nature.
Cathedral RC covered Pendleton, Broughton and Ordsall - and was cornered into amalgamation with St Lawrences in Weaste (Now all hallows) due to a question of Numbers - the land was sold off by the council (Surprise Surprise)
Then a few years down the line the same thing happened again! - the councils spin doctors forcing another amalgamation - with Pope John Paul II HS....Another central salford school.
I STILL remember the letters of 'condolence' from Heads from other Highs...published in the advertiser (OOH!)
Then (as Now) those schools who were saved from closure used the time cynically as a way of propping up their own standing in the community.
"Mounts is closing is it?...Come to St Pats/Georges/any other 'safe school name here'"
Those who were saved from the chop crowed away justifying their glorified position and hovered like vultures ready to pounce as the school in danger went seemingingly into chaos.
I DO have some empathy with the students of St Georges. Having the threat of closure hanging over a school is Not acceptible in any case...particularly when you have young minds preparing for examinations.
To the council i say this...rationally and logically. If the school isn't failing and the feeder schools continue to supply enough pupils...keep it open, but lets not shut another school so it can be flogged off like the family silver to a private developer
(BTW, Do the residents on the nice posh flats at Middlewood st like living next to a scrapyard?)
chelsea featherstone (23/05/2008 at 19:45)