TWO borough councillors representing Andover wards were successful in their attempt to involve Test Valley Borough Council in the debate over the future of schools at Knights Enham and Shepherds Spring.

All members of the borough council present at a full council meeting supported the motion that the council should write to county council cabinet member and Andover south county councillor David Kirk urging a rethink on any possible closure plans.

However, the motion, submitted to Wednesday evening's meeting in Romsey by councillor Len Gates and seconded by Donald MacDonald, was amended by council leader Ian Carr to reflect the fact that the current procedure was only a consultation and not a firm proposal to close any school.

The amendment was accepted by the proposers and called on the county council to listen very carefully to any proposals coming from the schools and investigate alternative strategies to find a solution to the problem of surplus places.

Mr Gates said that the consultation 'casts a shadow over every school in the area'.

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