Standing defiant

NEWARK has in the last week been served a double helping of disappointment by the Government. First, the Education Secretary, Mr Michael Gove, cried off at the 11th hour from a planned visit to our crumbling secondary schools.

Then the Health Secretary, Mr Andrew Lansley, decided that there would be no full independent review of changes at Newark Hospital.

The decisions have come as major blows to the efforts of campaigners fighting for the best possible health and education provision.

There was optimism that Mr Gove would bring good news regarding investment in the Grove, Magnus and Orchard school buildings.

His cancellation was compounded by his failure to give a detailed reason for his change of plans, with his department issuing a statement saying only that he had other business to attend to, and that there was always the possibility of last-minute cancellations of such visits.

There are calls for Mr Gove to put an end to the uncertainty, particularly surrounding the future of the Grove buildings, and campaigners have vowed to keep the pressure on.

Parent Mrs Helen Roberts said: “We haven’t given up. We are still fighting for what the children deserve.”

Meanwhile, the Save Newark Hospital Campaign is now considering pushing for a judicial review of the changes at the hospital.

Both groups may be disappointed, but they are defiant and will carry their respective campaigns as far as they can. The fight goes on.