Bridgwater MP Ian Liddell-Grainger said he was cautiously optimistic that Michael Gove’s decision to shelve the town’s Building Schools for the Future programme could still be overturned, after meeting the Education Secretary last night.

Mr Liddell-Grainger, who was joined by the leader of Somerset County Council, Ken Maddock, for the meeting, said Mr Gove now understood precisely how much progress had already been made towards Bridgwater’s proposed six new schools.

Mr Liddell-Grainger said: “He wasn’t aware before of certain factors and was very keen to find out how far we had got.

“He didn’t realise that all six schools were in the BSF contract together; he had thought that three schools were going forward first.

“He also didn’t realise that some building work had already begun; he was completely taken aback by that and was amazed by how much work he had done.

“He has said that BSF was scrapped because it was too bureaucratic, too expensive and too slow, but none of that applies to the BSF scheme in Bridgwater.

"We’ve come in under budget, and on time.

“He has now promised to review this as quickly as he can.”

Mr Liddell-Grainger has now withdrawn a threat to march on Downing Street, but said he would reconsider if he is not satisfied with Mr Gove’s review.

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