The academy trust behind a controversial £50 million free school project in Walsall has been branded 'cowards' by local campaigners after moving a public consultation online.
Online Switch Sparks Anger
The Windsor Academy Trust had planned an in-person drop-in event for residents to share views on the proposed Windsor Apollo Academy. However, in response to a planned gathering by campaigners, the trust shifted the session to a virtual format.
Mark Webster, a member of the Save Our Park group, said: 'I think moving it online is cowardly and shocking. The reason we arranged the gathering is that so far they've given no opportunity to really express our thoughts as a community on this. Now, they've retracted from that by going online and hiding behind a computer screen just so they don't have to hear the rawness of how people really feel about this.'
Long-Standing Opposition
Locals have long opposed the school, which is funded by the Department for Education. The two main concerns are the loss of 13.7 acres of Reedswood Park woodland and the chosen access route via the already-congested Reedswood Lane.
Shokt Fazal, vice chair of Birchills Agenda 21, had offered the trust free use of Talbot House, a community venue next to Reedswood Park. He said: 'They've decided to be cowards and hide. I'd given them the building for free to use and they've said they don't want to have the meeting because of the gathering. The gathering is going to be peaceful but they're doing everything to undermine us. The meeting is one of the formalities they have to do to make the DfE funding viable should it be approved. We are clearly against it but the DfE are making a decision against democracy.'
Political Reaction
Councillor Aftab Nawaz, leader of Walsall Community Independents, added: 'The fact that Windsor has now cancelled a face-to-face with local residents should tell the public everything they need to know. The best way to understand what the community thinks is by sitting with them and talking to them. It cannot be done online. Sitting with people and understanding their concerns is the least a responsible academy trust would do unless they are trying to hide something from the community.'
Trust's Justification
In an email seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the Windsor Academy Trust said: 'As a local gathering is planned for the same time, this decision has been taken to ensure that everyone who wishes to take part feels able to do so, and that the consultation can proceed in an accessible way to allow all voices to be heard.'
A trust spokesperson added: 'We are proud to be bringing our experience of running high-performing schools to Reedswood, and are committed to working closely with families and the wider community as the school develops. To support participation in the consultation and to allow all perspectives to be shared, the upcoming event will now take place virtually. Residents will still have the opportunity to hear more about the educational vision for the school, ask questions and share their feedback, and our focus remains on ensuring the school is shaped in the best interests of the children, families and community it will serve.'
