By far the most important consideration now, if the whole community is to help get the new Academy off to the best possible start, is to ensure that, wherever it is sited, it is shared and felt to be shared by all its stakeholders – especially by the pupils and their families." We trust that no-one will disagree with that judgement by County Councillor Simon Leyton. Wherever it is situated, a new academy, richly endowed by the Department for Children, Schools and Families and by Sellafield, will bring great benefits to the children of all families living between Mockerkin, formerly at the northern boundary of the Ehenside catchment area, and Eskdale, at the far south of Wyndham's intake. The two sites still under consideration, Wyndham and Cleator Mills, are at most two miles apart, and everyone should keep a sense of proportion about that.

However, there is a serious disagreement about which of these sites would be more appropriate. Cumbria County Council’s consultant, Capita-Symonds, had prepared a thorough and comprehensive report comparing the Cleator Mills and Wyndham School sites, and concluded that Wyndham site appeared to be the better option. This was agreed as the Council’s preferred option, but that decision was reversed by the cabinet after a meeting of the twelve County Councillors in Copeland had voted in favour of Cleator Mills. Norman Clarkson, councillor for Gosforth, voted for Cleator Mills, and Seascale’s councillor, Susan Brown, did not vote. This is now officially the County Council’s preferred site, but the decision depends on two conditions that will be hard to satisfy. It depends on the Council’s ability to purchase the land at an affordable price and within a fixed timescale to be agreed by the Academies Unit. If either condition cannot be met the Academy will be located at the Wyndham site.
Councillor David Southward argues that the only objective strength of the Cleator Mills site is that construction there would not impinge on the continuing educational provision at Wyndham. By contrast the weaknesses of the site are many. It is made up of five parcels of land owned by three separate companies. The County Council will have to agree terms and purchase the land by the government’s deadline, currently 30 September 2007. The entire site is within a Zone 3a Flood Risk. This would require specific agreement from the Environment Agency for any significant development including evidence that no alternative site exists.
The land on the Wyndham site is already owned or is readily obtainable. Egremont is close to the geographic centre of gravity of the academy’s catchment. Currently well over 80% of the academy’s potential students attend Wyndham School. Transport links to Egremont are well-established and many students can walk there safely. Egremont is designated a Key Service Centre making this development wholly appropriate.
As County Councillor for both Cleator Moor and Egremont South, Simon Leyton is passionately convinced that the educational disadvantages suffered by Cleator Moor and Frizington should be redressed. "Cleator Moor did not get a brand new comprehensive school like Wyndham in the nineteen sixties. As people in Cleator Moor and Frizington see things, it’s their turn", he told Egremont Today.
However, not everyone in Cleator would agree. Fr Manny Gribben is very enthusiastic about the prospect of having an academy in this area but does not feel that Cleator Mills is the right place. He explained to Egremont Today that he was not only concerned about the vulnerability of the shrine at St Mary's which attracts pilgrims from across the world. A site on a flood plain bordered by the River Ehen to the East and a busy main road to the West presents obvious hazards. He is frankly puzzled that the County Council should consider a site which could only be acquired with great difficulty and cost when it already possessed sufficient land on the present Wyndham site.

The argument should not be seen as a dispute between Egremont and Cleator Moor. Wherever the Academy is situated it will belong to the whole community between Mockerkin and Eskdale. No community will be taken over by another. Egremont Today is expanding in Cleator Moor because all the families served by the new Academy will be our people. There will be no economic disaster for the town not selected. If there is no school on the Wyndham site it will not become a black hole for the town. We have previously lacked a suitable site for a major sports complex and we have heard that a major supermarket is looking for a base in a growing market town that serves a prosperous hinterland.

Our photographs show the alternative sites. If you feel that the choice of site affects your family, phone your own County Councillor, whose number you will find on page 7, and put your point of view. They are there to represent your interests.