Cleethorpes: Parents to fight school closures

Parents in North East Lincolnshire are preparing to fight plans to close primary schools in the region - reports the BBC.

Councillors say up to five schools must close to reduce 3,500 surplus places - a figure which could rise to 4,500 by 2009 unless action is taken.

Elliston and Bursar in Cleethorpes, and Littlecoates in Grimsby, are earmarked for closure.

Eastfield and Ravendale in Immingham are also under threat.

Parents of Bursar pupils are planning a protest at Grimsby Town Hall on Monday.

In addition to the closures, other schools in the region could be merged under the plans, which will be discussed by the council cabinet on Monday.

Although there will be a public consultation, parents are angry by the timing of the announcement.

Father-of-three Mark Baxter, who has two children at Bursar, told BBC News: "They have just gone ahead with this and dropped it on us.

"We want to make them aware that we plan to highlight the fact we don't want this school to close and that we are going to fight it."

Meanwhile, parents with children at Elliston Infants School are also meeting to form an action group.