Public meeting over Grimsby school merger abandoned
A public meeting over the planned merger of schools in Grimsby was called off after the venue was overfilled with parents wanting to have their say.
North East Lincolnshire Council wants to save money by cutting surplus places at schools on the Willows Estate.
The authority has put forward two options, one which could see up to four schools close, the other could see a number of primary schools merged.
Hundreds of angry parents were turned away from the meeting on Tuesday night.
The meeting will now be held at Grimsby Auditorium at 1830 BST on 19 October.
One parent told BBC News: "We know from experience that Willows school alone would bring 150 people here tonight, that's one school out of the four.
"So why the council couldn't have put it at the auditorium straight out beggars belief."
Vivien Cutler, from the council, said the postponement was "regrettable" and apologised to parents who attended Tuesday night's meeting at Whitgift School.
She said: "Their views are very important to us. A new date and venue has been arranged for next week and we hope that parents are still able to attend"."
The council said of the options being considered, one was to close Willows Primary School, Great Coates primary and Littlecoates primary and then to expand Whitgift secondary school to an 'all-through school' for pupils aged three to 16.
The second option is to close Whitgift school, Great Coates, Willows Primary and Littlecoates and open an amalgamated primary school for ages four to 11.