GOVERNORS at Eastnor Parochial Primary School have pledged to remain vigilant' to any new threats to their school.

New chair of governors Paul Dunthorne said everyone at the school was delighted with Herefordshire Council's decision to withdraw its "controversial and deeply unpopular" schools review proposals.

Under the plans Eastnor would have merged with Bosbury CE Primary to form a new 140-pupil school at the Bosbury site.

Rev Dunthorne, the rector of Ledbury, said the criteria the council used to formulate their original proposals actually demonstrated the success and viability of Eastnor School.

"The council's proposals seemed more inexplicable every time we looked at them," he said. "Eastnor School is full, popular with parents, and very successful, with good buildings and excellent community relationships.

With Herefordshire Council now engaging in consultations ahead of new review proposals, governors will continue to work with local councillors and community groups to demonstrate the long-term success and viability of the school.

"We must ensure that the council does not make the same mistake twice," said Rev Dunthorne.

Ledbury ward county councillor Peter Watts, who backed Eastnor's campaign from the start, feels the review's withdrawal is na step in the right direction, and a move towards a more common sense approach that had been sadly lacking'.

"The financial and numerical numbers did not equate or make any logical sense, and there were no financial figures to back up any statement within the review," he said. "The most important and vital element, the consultation with schools and parents, was totally devoid, which bordered on negligence. If the original policy had been implemented it would have torn the heart out of many small rural communities throughout Herefordshire."