Council's £500 cash pledge for school canopy

Audlem Parish Council has pledged £500 to help pay for an outdoor all-weather canopy at St James' School.

But councillors won't pay out until the remaining £13,500 has been raised and a firm order for the outdoor canopy is in place.

St James' contacted the parish for help in raising funds for a new £14,000 all-weather outdoor canopy for its 'early years' children.

A letter to the parish claimed the canopy "would raise the quality of outdoor educational provision" at the school.

Councillor Richard Furber gave strong support for a cash handout. "The school needs our support considering all the thing we are supporting in these difficult times," he told the June Parish Council meeting.

He was backed by Councillor Heather Jones who argued: "The school is the future of the village and we should help the children in any way we can."

But councillors were concerned at the recent collapse of the Tree House project which has received parish support in the past.

Councillor David Higham noted: "The Tree House has had to close so we should be careful about what we spend money on."

And Councillor Dave Siddorns was concerned that the Parish Council should be paying for school improvements anyway.

"Educational facilities are a matter for Cheshire East and the Government. I hope the school has looked at what is available to provide these things," he added.

Councillors agreed a one-off pledge to donate £500 to the project but would only release the cash when the order is placed.

Councillor Kate Down added: "In the current financial situation it would seem petty of us not to support the village school."

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