HEREFORDSHIRE Lib Dem leader Terry James issued the following statement.

"Councillor Phillips and his colleagues are now engaged in a campaign to wear down and destroy the opposition to their plans. What they will now do is come forward with a revised plan closing some of the schools and then proceed to pick the rest off one by one."

"What is most galling is the pretence by the Cabinet that they were unaware and surprised by the scheme, no senior officer of any council would place such massive proposals in the public arena without the knowledge, support and authorisation of the political leadership of the Council. It is the Cabinet who are responsible for and make the decisions on the Council, not the officers. If they have done they should be subject to disciplinary action but I am certain that these Councillors knew perfectly well what was being proposed but are now engaged in a damage limitation exercise."

"Herefordshire schools must stay united in their opposition to the whole of this scheme otherwise they will be picked off one by one."