A PENSNETT ward councillor says she is continuing to be appalled at the “anti-democratic” way Dudley Council is dealing with the proposed closure of Pensett High School.

Councillor Judy Foster said at a recent meeting of Brierley Hill Area Committee that she and fellow ward councillor Karen Jordan once again asked for a special area committee meeting for council members to hear the views of the concerned parents and residents.

However, the members refused to honour her request because of a forthcoming public meeting set to be held on October 19 to discuss the future of the Tiled House Lane school.

Councillor Foster said: “All the Conservative members voted against a special meeting, with only the Labour and Liberal Democrat councillors voting for a separate meeting.

“And our fellow ward councillor abstained from the vote, which saddened us as we would expect the other ward councillor to support our position.”

She added: “This is such an antidemocratic way of handling things. It is usual practise that a special area committee meeting is held when proposing the closing down of a school – so all the councillors in the area can hear the views of residents.

“We are stuck with the public meeting at the school to which we guess most councillors won’t go. I think it will only be Karen Jordan and myself.”

Residents, parents, community leaders and groups are all invited to the school for the public meeting on Monday, October 19 at 6.30pm.

Consultation into the proposals is set to run until December 2.

If the decision is upheld, the school would be closed by August next year.

Councillor Liz Walker, cabinet member for children’s services, said: “We want to give people every opportunity to have their say on these very important proposals spread over a period of time.

“It really is for anyone with an interest in the Pensnett community to come along and give their views.”