NEWS the county council has finally agreed to retain its Medical Education Team (MET) based in Redditch has been welcomed with delight.
The MET unit in Redditch provides education to children with ill health or medical needs which prevent them from attending their school, but despite this the county put forward a proposal to transfer the unit to a new base in Kidderminster.
However furious parents argued that it would mean taking their children out of a safe and familiar environment and forcing them to make long distance round trips on a daily basis.
They also said the move would be disruptive to their children’s learning and would cause many of them to become stressed and unsettled.
Furthermore they engaged a firm of solicitors, Irwin Mitchell, to fight their case.
Following this the County Hall ordered a temporary halt to the plan while it launched a consultation process which concluded on October 20 and after considering a number of alternative options the authority agreed the MET, in Easemore Road, should remains open.
County councillor Joe Baker (Lab/Arrow Valley East), who is also Mayor of Redditch borough, said he was delighted at the U-turn.
“The vital service the MET provides for our most vulnerable children is essential and long may it continue,” he said.
County Councillor Pattie Hill, (Lab, Arrow Valley West) added: “I’m delighted it’s staying open – I just hope it’s for good.”
County Coun Marc Bayliss, (Con, Worcester St Peters) cabinet member with responsibility for children and families said: “Our priority is always to ensure that children can learn in the best possible environment. We fully take on the views of the parents/carers involved and we’re pleased that we can accommodate their preferred option.”
