DORSET’S cabinet member for education should consider resigning her position over the school meals fiasco, a furious MP has said.

Annette Brooke, the Liberal Democrat MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole, said Toni Coombs had ‘let down headteachers, parents and pupils’ with her handling of the issue.

As revealed in yesterday’s Echo, Cllr Coombs has now admitted the county council had known about potential problems with the free school meal roll-out three months ago.

Initially, Cllr Coombs, who is also Dorset’s cabinet member for communications, said school meals provider Chartwells hadn’t informed Dorset County Council about a fire that destroyed its kitchen in the Ferndown Industrial Estate until the start of term.

She has now confirmed she had known about the fire but had forgotten she had been told about it.

Mrs Brooke said: “I think she should be seriously considering her position considering the number of schools, parents and pupils she has let down.

“I don’t understand why they wouldn’t carefully scrutinise and monitor this and why there wasn’t a contingency plan in place.

“I’ve made enquiries in London and I have concluded that Dorset is the worst place in the country for the implementation of free school meals.

“This is a good policy and I’m so cross about these problems because they could have been avoided.”

She said it would now be a tough task to convince parents and schools of the value of free school lunches and added: “There are long-term consequences to this which is why I think the person accountable has got to be considering her position.

“They should also look over the boundaries to see how other authorities have managed.”

A county council spokesman said: “Councillor Coombs will not be resigning and does not feel she has anything to resign over.”

Parents and children unhappy with food service

At Ferndown First School, Kathryn James said: “I think it is disgusting that the council lied about the situation and knew about the fire all along. 

“They should have got it sorted much earlier because it has turned into a nightmare for so many people. The school is not to blame for this in any way – they have been fantastic.”

Dawn Williams said: “This is typical of the council. The parents are always last to know what is going on. The children had pizza on the first day which is unacceptable, and the council could have done something about that.”

At Mudeford Infants’ School, Chantelle Lamb, of Mudeford, said: “It’s a pain, particularly when it’s affecting time that should be dedicated to students. I think the county council has a case to answer. 

“This is a massive contract, and a lot of children have been affected.”

Sutira Law gives her children packed lunches.

“I’m glad that I made that decision, because it sounds like it’s been horrendous for the children,” she said.

Carolyn Harrison, of Christchurch, said her Reception-age daughter had been served salmon and cucumber sandwiches.

“That’s a nice thought for adults, but it’s not child-friendly food,” she said.

“I don’t think the sandwiches they’re serving are suitable for the age of the children. 

“The whole thing has been ridiculous.”

Hope Wood and Rose Renshaw, both six, are in their second year of school. 

They called the sandwiches served “gross”, and Hope added: “I think they should have hot meals and not sandwiches.

“We don’t like the sandwiches they give us as they’re not very nice.”