"Gobsmacked" at schools march turnout

9:56am Thursday 14th February 2008

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ORGANISERS of yesterday's save schools march through Hereford described themselves as "gobsmacked" at the 2,000 plus turnout.

"It was a passionate cause that hit so many people - Herefordshire has shown how it feels," said Jane Ward of Herefordshire Against Closing Schools.

Those behind the march and rally met with Herefordshire council leader Roger Phillips and chief executive Chris Bull at Hereford Town Hall to hear face-to-face assurances that, in the wake of the protest, no schools would even be considered for closure unless they fell within the county's current pupil number criteria. And even then, all options to keep them open would be explored.

"We let them know they have some way to go to re-build the trust and confidence lost over all this, but overall it was a very positive meeting," said Jane Ward.