FOR the very first time I entered my Town Hall. I went because I was confused over how a democratic vote taken and won to keep two comprehensive schools open, thus protecting the small communities, could suddenly be voted on again?
It appears this vote did not comply with the whim of the Chief Executive and his minnows.
I listened to three petitions that were not answered by the not-prepared Coun Rippon. I listened to Jan Wilson and yes, you are a villain lady, you who boas
t of treating the city people all the same. Then followed an oratory by Coun Harry Harpham. His figures were challenged so he waved a paper around telling anyone they could look at it. I asked one of the ushers if I could have a copy. He said to write a request to the legal department.
However, with my ears still ringing we had to listen to a councillor, Julie Door; she could out-shout Ian Paisley. She thought, because of the applause from her colleagues and the Myers group, that she had made a huge impact. Her figures were wrong, she knows nothing about our lovely community and my comment on this councillor - “what a gob.”
What I thought of the two Conservative votes and speeches could not be put in print. Their future career is in the hands of their constituents.
I have always voted Labour but never again. The Labour councillors were nothing short of rabble, sneering, laughing, while others spoke, walking around the chamber. It was so rude I couldn’t believe that they have the entrusted responsibility for running this city. This council is not capable of running a bath.
Myers people put on their banner, among other words, “One Community” What nonsense. Wisewood is an entirely different community and not adjacent to Stannington. So, once again, Wisewood is the loser. We have no community centre (while other areas have two or three); we have no playground (are we the only community in the city without one?). We virtually have nothing but a good spirit and lovely people.
So, taking our school is the icing on the cake. And, while I understand that the Myers parents agree it may enhance their children’s future, you have given no thought to the encumbrance and dismay caused to the Wisewood parents and their children.
I thought the most disgraceful act of the day was to try and make the Wisewood parents feel responsible for an increase in council tax should the school be allowed to remain.
More information from the Government is required because I don’t believe the shouting, bellowing Labour councillors.
Name and address supplied
I have desperately been trying to find eloquent words which summarise how I feel about the whole merger business. The only one that seems suitable is despair.
For all sorts of reasons -despair at the lack of empathy for the Wisewood community; despair at the arrogance of our leaders in Sheffield Council. Most of all, despair at the lack of respect shown to those that matter most of all - the children and young people in Wisewood. What is happening flies in the face of the Every Child Matters Agenda. In Wisewood the children and young people clearly don’t matter.
The full article contains 557 words and appears in Sheffield Star newspaper.