AN MP has slammed the local education authority claiming it has 'gagged' teachers from speaking out against closure of their village schools.

Weaver Vale MP Mike Hall alleges heads and other staff at threatened schools have been warned they could face misconduct charges by Cheshire County Council, should they speak out.

The claim, denied by the council, comes in the wake of proposals to close Dunham Hill Primary School and merge Kingsley CoE with Norley CoE and Manley Village School with Alvanley Primary School.

The authority's Transforming Learning Communities (TLC) strategy would also see Frodsham High School close and a £185,000 Children's Centre at Weaver Vale Primary School.

Governors and heads said they had not been asked about the proposals - aimed at tackling falling rolls during summer consultation meetings.

Mr Hall claims TLC is a trojan horse for putting schools and staff to the sword and says teachers were told not to attend public meetings at Alvanley Primary School and Manley Village School. 'This is a disgrace,' said Mr Hall.

'We live in a democracy. Everyone should be allowed to have their say about the future of village schools in Cheshire.

'Headteachers and teachers should not be placed in a position where they face disciplinary action if they speak out in support of their school and their community.

'They are in a very good position to advise local communities about the benefits of having small, successful and full village schools.'

Offering to meet Mr Hall, the council's member for children's services, Cllr David Rowlands, said: 'His allegations are puzzling, not least because it would not be within the powers of the local authority to charge a teacher with gross professional misconduct.

'That would fall to the head and board of governors.

'The only advice given to headteachers - at their own request - is that they should do everything possible to maintain the continuity of education in our schools.

'Teachers have many ways of expressing their individual views on the TLC review - either through their own union representatives or as part of the extensive informal and formal consultation exercises.'

Cllr Rowlands, said Mr Hall's claim the process was about saving money was 'difficult to understand'.

He added: 'It was the present Government that instructed this authority - and others - to address the problems created by an everincreasing number of surplus places.'

The LEA has postponed formal consultation on its proposals until December after claims they were being hurried through.

Schools have opposed the plans and are now exploring alternatives.

Pupils at Dunham Hill Primary School unveiled a new 'Save Our School' banner after two county council officials visited on Monday.