War of words over new school

A BITTER war of words threatened to overshadow the official opening of the new Peacehaven Community School this week.

Sparks flew after Peacehaven Town Council leader Tony Howard accused the school s Parents Action Group of stealing the credit for successfully campaigning for the school and attempting to snub him at its official opening.

Cllr Howard claimed it was only after he threatened to demonstrate with placards at the opening he was invited.

He said: I have lived in Peacehaven for 36 years, my daughter was 18 months old when we moved here and we were told there was a new school on the way for her to go to. It was people like myself, neighbours and other people around the town who have campaigned, but the Parents Action Group are claiming all the credit

As a result Cllr Howard and his wife, fellow town councillor and Mayor Pauline Howard, organised their own celebratory reception after the official opening at the school on Monday.

This was to thank the people who deserved the credit for the new school, said Cllr Howard. This was for the people who did the work no those who jumped on the bandwagon and the Johnny-come-latelies.

The Mayor Cllr Pauline Howard added: I was angry at how many of my councillors were being totally ignored when it came to handing out the credit for the school. I organised the reception to recognise the people that did the work, not those who came along late and joined the party. This is my way to say thank you to those people

Lindsey Cove, spokesperson for the Parents Action Group, denied it had attempted to steal the glory.

She said: Unfortunately, some people believe we are looking for acclaim in getting this school built. In fact, we are totally aware that without the support of the local community, residents associations and numerous councillors and politicians, we would still be campaigning today.

The reason that the Parents Action Group has had a lot of the limelight is because we chose to give this project a high profile in order to show the Government the strength of feeling in the community for the need for a school.

She added: Many other groups have campaigned for a school since the land was allocated in 1962. It was not one political party alone that has given us the school. Without the unanimous vote of all political parties at East Sussex County County, the application for the school would not have been put forward.

Peacehaven Community School will be a school of excellence and should be fully supported and celebrated by the community. This is what is important now.

A spokesman for East Sussex County Council dismissed Cllr Tony Howard s claim that town councillors had not been invited as absolute nonsense .

He said: All the members of Peacehaven and Telscombe Town Council have always been on the invitation list.

It would be unfortunate if the actions of one person where to overshadow the celebrations of 30 million worth of education investment for the people of Peacehaven.