PARENTS, governors and teachers at three Harlow schools have joined forces to fight Essex County Council's merger and closure plans.

Campaigners at Maunds Wood Primary School - which is threatened by closure - and those fighting the amalgamation of Peterswood and Little Parndon Junior and Infant Schools, have collaborated to enlist more public support for their battles.

And they plan to gather signatures of Harlow town centre shoppers on Saturday in support of their campaigns.

Maunds Wood's chairman of governors Mike Faccini said: "Rather than fight for the attention of residents, we will work together to get support for all three schools.

"We feel we can really get a lot of help from each other. We are also contacting other schools and asking them to put forward objections."

He said Hare Street junior and infant schools, which were also under merger threat, had not yet decided whether to appeal against the plans.

The Harlow Primary Schools Review, which was approved in March, proposes the closure of Maunds Wood School, which caters for special needs pupils.

It also plans the merger of Peterswood, Little Parndon and Hare Street junior and infant schools.

These can now only be overturned by the Secretary of State for Education and Employment David Blunkett, once appeals have been put forward.

Petitions can be signed between 9am and 3pm in the Harvey Centre.

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