CONTROVERSIAL decisions to close several Bury schools and amalgamate others will come under full scrutiny this week.

The council's decision-making body, the Executive, has agreed to a number of options for specific schools, in a bid to tackle the problem of falling pupil rolls.

But the Lifelong Learning Scrutiny and Review Panel has decided to examine the whole issue and over weekend has been visiting all the schools concerned before holding two public meetings to consider all the evidence.

The proposals are:-

the closure of Affetside Primary School and the accommodation of its pupils at Christ Church CE Primary, Walshaw.

the closure of St Paul's CE Primary, Ramsbottom, and the accommodation of its pupils at St Andrew's CE Primary, Ramsbottom.

the closure of both St John's CE Primary and St Mark's CE Primary followed by the creation of a new school on the St John's School site.

the closure of Fishpool Infant School and St Chad's Junior School, Bury and the creation of a new primary school in the two existing buildings.

the closure of Radcliffe Infant and Radcliffe Junior Schools and the creation of a new primary school in the two existing buildings.

Coun Tim Chamberlain, chairman of the scrutiny and review panel said: "In recognition of the fact that there has been a huge amount of public concern, I indicated even before the executive made their decisions that we would be calling these matters in. We will now review all the evidence and the panel will then have a number of options. We can agree with the decisions taken by the executive, or we can make recommendations to them and they will then have to hold a further special meeting to discuss those."

He added: "The scrutiny panels were set up to act as a check on the executive as well as to contribute towards policy development. I feel that we would be failing in our duty if we were not to take a detailed look at these particular matters."

The public meetings will be held on Wednesday, (April 24) and Thursday, (April 25) in the council chamber of Bury Town Hall.

On Wednesday the schedule is to consider evidence from: Fishpool Infant School/St Chad's CE Junior School between 6pm and 7pm; Radcliffe Infant School/Radcliffe Junior School between 7pm and 8pm; Affetside Primary School/Christ Church, Walshaw, between 8pm and 10pm.

On Thursday the schedule is: St John's CE Primary School/St Mark's CE Primary School between 6pm and 8pm; St Andrew's CE Primary School, Ramsbottom/St Paul's CE Primary 8pm and 10pm.

A Punjabi/Urdu speaking interpreter will attend on both evenings and members of the public will be given an opportunity to ask questions and make comments.