MP fears bid a blot on school (From Gazette Series)

MP fears bid a blot on school

MP David Drew has this week branded Rednock School's recent failed funding application a wasted opportunity.

The Labour MP for Stroud has spoken of his dismay at the situation, reported by the Gazette last week, which he believes is of the school's and county council's own making.

He said: "We've been through all this before and we had a series of meetings to make sure that it never happened again."

Rednock School in Dursley was told only last week that a third application for Government funding - desperately needed to carry out essential repairs to the dilapidated building - had failed.

Mr Drew said this week that a lack of communication between school officials and Gloucestershire County Council representatives meant the bid was possibly not as strong as it could have been.

He said: "With this kind of application it is important that all parties co-operate, the school, the county council and myself.

"I didn't know anything about this bid. We had discussions earlier in the summer looking at how to package up the million pound expenditure.

"Going ahead without everyone on board is not the way to do things," he added.

Mr Drew says he is now fearful that another failed bid will blot Rednock's record.

"What worries me is that it is unhelpful to have lots of rejected bids on file. I'm not saying I could have swung it with ministers but it would have been helpful if I'd known.

"I suspect the main reason Rednock didn't get anything was because there were more bids than money."

David Martin, chairman of governors at Rednock School, said he were surprised Mr Drew had been kept out of the loop.

"We were very surprised he didn't know that the Local Education Authority had put the bid in and because of that wasn't able to give it any support with ministers."

Gloucestershire County Council's cabinet member for schools, Cllr Joan Nash said they were all disappointed about the failed bid but maintained that Mr Drew was always invited to meetings concerning the funding application.

She said: "It has been this council's priority for a number of years to get hold of the funding Rednock School needs to carry out essential building and repair work.

"Over the last 18 months we have worked jointly, and met regularly, with the school, governors, local councillors and the MP to develop proposals for PFI funding.

"As the local MP, with a keen interest in his constituency, we would have hoped that Mr Drew was fully aware of the continuing problems facing Rednock School and maintained regular contact with the school and to monitor how they were progressing."

A meeting is now being arranged between Mr Drew, Rednock School and the county council to discuss further funding applications.