Council Gives Prince Henry's the Green Light

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 24th Jan 2005

Otley and Yeadon Liberal Democrats have welcomed Leeds City Council's decision to allow Prince Henry's to ringfence the money from the sale of the Newall site.

At the Exec Board meeting last Wednesday, the decision was approved as a way of allowing the school to raise money for much needed improvements to the fabric of the buildings and to build a new science block.

Since records began in 1998, schools in the North West wedge of Leeds have had the lowest capital spend across the city and of those, Prince Henry's has had the lowest within that.

Cllr Colin Campbell, who has been campaigning on this for some time, hailed this decision, "This is a sensible and fair decision which will allow Prince Henry's to make much needed improvements. It is an excellent school and has not been given a fair deal so this is a positive step in the right direction".

This was echoed by Cllr Greg Mulholland, Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesperson for Otley. "Prince Henry's is well known for both achievement and inclusion and this will help the school to continue to serve pupils and the community so well." Cllr Mulholland, who speaks on national education issues for the Liberal Democrats in Leeds North West added, "It is important to ensure that in the future Prince Henry's gets a fairer deal all round, so that such a situation doesn?t arise in the future."

Cllr Ryk Downes, who is a governor of the school, also welcomed the decision. "We all know about the excellent OFSTED report, so I am delighted, as a governor and as parent, as well as a Councillor, that at least Prince Henry's is being allowed to improve facilities at the School".

Concludes Colin Campbell, "The new administration promised to give Otley a better deal, and this is an example of it happening in practice. At last Leeds City Council seems to be listening to people in Otley".