CHILDREN'S SERVICES IN GLOUCESTERSHIRE

That this House regrets the proposals by the Liberal Democrat and Labour controlled Gloucestershire County Council to close three of Gloucestershire's special schools, namely Alderman Knight, Belmont and Battledown Children's Centre, despite the excellent standard of education and care they provide for many children who would not be able to cope or succeed in mainstream schools; further notes the intentions of the primary care trust to reduce the 24 hour acute paediatric cover at the Battledown Children's Ward at Cheltenham General Hospital; is concerned at the downgrading of services for children generally across Gloucestershire; notes the decision by Tewkesbury Borough Council, under provisions of the Local Government Act 2003, to hold a referendum on the proposed closure of Alderman Knight School, which was opposed by 98.8 per cent. of voters in a 56 per cent. turn-out; is dismayed by the decision of Liberal Democrat-controlled Cheltenham Council to vote against Conservative proposals to hold a similar referendum in that borough; and calls on Cheltenham Council to reverse that decision and allow its residents the opportunity to participate in the democratic process to express their views on this important issue affecting many thousands of local children.