Wirral 320

A CONTROVERSIAL vote over plans for two new academies in Wirral will not be re-run, it appeared last night.

Opponents claimed the vote on Tuesday night had been miscounted in a meeting which cabinet member Phil Davies described as ending in “a complete and utter” farce.

The meeting descended into chaos after a Conservative motion was declared carried, even though Labour said more members had voted against it.

The Tory motion had called for cabinet to review the consultation arrangements for the Birkenhead academies and commit to retaining Ridgeway High School. The Labour amendment called for a wider review of all the options.

Dozens of parents, pupils and teachers had attended the meeting at Wallasey Town Hall to oppose the plans to shut their school.

But Cllr Davies said his members had insisted they had all voted for the Labour and Lib-Dem motion, but the votes had been counted incorrectly.

Chair of the scrutiny meeting Cllr Sheila Clarke had refused a recount and insisted the Tory motion – which had been cheered loudly by many of the public there – was carried.