Liberal Democrat Mayor Dave Hodgson is ‘taking the credit’ for millions of pounds of Government funding to replace temporary classrooms with permanent buildings at schools in Bedford Borough, according to Bedford Borough Councillor Alison Foster.

Cllr Foster has said that while she is ‘delighted’ that Harrold Lower School in her Ward has benefitted from new permanent classrooms she is also ‘disappointed’ at the Council’s attempts to carry off the investment as its own.

In 2014/15 funding for the Council’s Temporary School Accommodation scheme is £4.808m which comes entirely from Government funding sources.

Cllr Foster, who is the Conservative representative for Harrold Ward said:

‘I am very disappointed to see that the Mayor is putting so much energy into trying to convince residents that the Council is putting its hand in its own pocket to fund the removal of temporary classrooms in our schools.  In 2014/15 the £4.8m set aside for this purpose is coming from funding allocated to the Council by the Government. 

‘I am delighted that Harrold Lower School has benefitted from Government funding for its new permanent classrooms.  It is a wonderful school with an amazing Head Teacher who has worked very hard to bring this project to fruition.  The children should have access to the best possible facilities that we can offer them and I am pleased that this is now the case.  The previous temporary classrooms were completely unsuitable.’