Clergymen fighting Bradford Council's school shake-up plans say they have been given new hope by Government schools standards minister Estelle Morris.

The Rev Gordon Dey, vicar of Holme Wood and Tong, led a delegation of four vicars from Holme Wood and Bierley to express anger at Council plans which they say would force more than 500 children from Holme Wood to cross Tong Street trunk road each day.

The churchmen told Mrs Morris to make known their fears about children's safety and the lack of choice the changes offer.

Mr Dey said: "She listened and told us to be sure her department would not be rubber-stamping the Council's proposals.

"It was important we put our concerns to her and stress the impact these plans would have. She listened for 20 minutes then told us the department would carefully consider all sides.

"We've lodged our formal objections so now it's a matter of waiting for the outcome."

Mr Dey launched his campaign against the Council's plan for Holme Wood after examining how children in his parish would be affected. He says the Council has wrongly assumed similar numbers of children live in Bierley and Holme Wood in its scheme to reduce the area's schools set-up from three to two tiers. The building of new homes had also not been taken into account.

The Council plans to close a number of schools on the Holme Wood side of Tong Street.

The vicar of Bierley, the Rev Iain Lane, said the protest was not a smokescreen to mask discontent at loss of Bierley Cof E First School under the shake-up.

He said: "We are acting for everyone and have support from schools and community groups.

"We hope our points are taken seriously and there will be consultation with us before the Secretary of State comes up with the final plan."

The closing date for objections was today. The chairman of Bradford Education Committee, Councillor Jim Flood said he did not wish to comment further.

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