As astonishing as it is the paper is actually breaking away from it's position as "official" Academy newsletter and has printed some "evidence" that some peeps on or in the County Council haven't been as open and above board as they should have been.
Who'd have thought it?
During a public meeting at South Site, Mr Blackledge said: "In a way
we feel equally upset about the situation we find ourselves in, on
August 4, these issues were not known to us." If
true then this statement is a bombshell and proves conclusively that
the Academy creation process in Barrow and presumably across Cumbria
was just politicking for money.
County council representatives did not attend the public meetings. And yet the county council is going to be overseeing any new school buildings.
But now Jim Mitchell, of the county council's academies project team,
has said: "The county council was aware of some of the issues
associated with North Site at the time of its consultation on whether
the academy should operate from one or two sites. There was no reason then to believe that the difficulties would be
too problematic to overcome. Sorry Jim. No-one believes a word of this.
"The investigations undertaken at that time were appropriate to the
current stage of the project. In the intervening 12 to 15 month period, work on the options for
developing the two sites has progressed significantly and the academy
has been established and has gained experience of operating across two
campuses. What on earth has the operating experience got to do with these alleged planning difficulties?
Answer none whatsoever but Jim is once again deliberately obfuscating the issues as he has done many times in the past.
"This has revealed further site development and operational
constraints which the academy is now outlining during its present
consultation process."
Cobblers. Utter tripe.
There is no way on earth a competent County Council which has owned
this site for donkey's years wouldn't be fully aware of any
'restrictions' and 'planning issues'.
I know Cumbria County Council is merely adequate according to the Audit
Commission but, as a body of human beings working for the good of the
non entity Cumbria, it believes it is competent.
As ever the people of Barrow slumber on whilst the incompetent and
malignant, mischievous, cynical, devious County Council shafts the town whilst insulting the intelligence of Barrovians yet again.
What will it take for people to lift their heads out of the sand and show these clowns the exit?
Jack Richardson attended the public meeting at South site and did not say a word when Blackledge explained that some decisions were made by Cumbria CC long before he was appointed.
Jack is not known for being reticent at public meetings. Why has he nothing to say now?
I almost felt sorry for Mr Blackledge. He has been well and truly stitched up by the council and the academy sponsors.
"The county council was aware of some of the issues associated with North Site at the time of its consultation on whether the academy should operate from one or two sites. There was no reason then to believe that the difficulties would be too problematic to overcome."
"The investigations undertaken at that time were appropriate to the current stage of the project. In the intervening 12 to 15 month period, work on the options for developing the two sites has progressed significantly and the academy has been established and has gained experience of operating across two campuses."
So why not request details of this level of awareness and investigations under the freedom of information act?