RESIDENTS in Wyre Forest should have a say in a controversial shake-up of their schools, voted county councillors.

But the Tory-dominated 10-member cabinet look set to scupper the decision.

Yesterday, councillors voted in favour of a motion tabled by the Labour group which asked that a poll of the entire Wyre Forest community takes place to canvass opinion on a scheme which would see all middle schools and four first schools closed.

But the final decision will still rest with the cabinet which is expected to kill the poll idea.

At yesterday's meeting of the full council, all five Tory members plus Labour councillor Colin Beardwood voted against the decision.

The debate on the schools review came after back-bench councillors "called in" the cabinet's July decision to move the district from a three-tier to a two-tier system in September 2007.

Parents and governors whose children and schools would be affected by the scheme spoke unanimously against the proposals at yesterday's meeting and said closure of schools would be "a travesty" and an "unnecessary unheaval".

Labour group leader Coun Peter Pinfield championed their cause and said the council must carry out a poll to ensure local people believed their views and wishes had been taken into account.

But Coun June Longmuir, in charge of education, condemned the motion as "a piece of political opportunism."

"I fail to see how a poll would help with the decision-making," she said. "We need to make a sensible decision and stop wasting time.

"We need to talk about moving forward now."

The ultimate outcome will be determined by the cabinet on Thursday, November 11.

n How the cabinet members voted:

Coun Dr George Lord: against.

Coun June Longmuir: against.

Coun Alwyn Davies: against.

Coun Adrian Hardman: against.

Coun Liz Eyre: against.

Coun Colin Beardwood: against.

Coun Peter Pinfield: for.

Coun John Gordon: for.

Coun V John Smith: for.

Coun Tom Wells: for.