Children's needs are most important

Having passed through this school, and All Saints C of E Infant and Nursery School, I feel I have a valid and objective opinion. The thing many people fail to realise is that the closure of the Junior School means another school can stay open.

Therefore, the debate is really which school has the best site to house all the children. Having been to both schools I can categorically say that the Infant School is the safest and most practical site for children aged four to 11. Although the Junior School is a listed building, it is not practical for young children.

There are no facilities for them, which means the annex will need to be demolished and rebuilt causing excessive disruption to those travelling across the river. The Infant school has these facilities already installed, and is in a much safer location for young children travelling to school (especially considering that many older children walk on their own).

The facilities near to the Junior School are a positive factor I agree. However, I have no real recollection of them being used to a beneficial degree. The Infant School has all its grounds enclosed whereas Garnett's own the Junior School field. As public property it is permanently accessible despite what activities are going on. This is not only unsafe, but the excrement left by the dogs walked there is a potential risk to anyone, especially infants!

The limitation of school rush traffic will be beneficial to all, and congestion need not increase as there is a perfectly adequate Hopper service to the Infant school and it is a much safer place to walk to.

There will also be no detrimental damage to trade in the town because parents will shop after taking their children to school no matter which one it is to. I hope this outlines my argument coherently. It is the welfare of the children that is at stake here. People must consider the needs of the Infant pupils as well and not just those at the Junior School.

Amy Walton

South Parade, Otley.

Plans rushed

SIR,- I have heard about the proposals for reorganising primary schools in Otley and am very worried about the closure of All Saints Junior School.

I have a child at the school and chose it because of its excellent reputation and the convenience of the location. It is in easy walking distance for us and, being in the centre of town, it is easy for me to pop to the shops and other central facilities after dropping my daughter off.

I don't have transport available and am worried about what we will do if the new Church of England school is located on the edge of town at the far end of the Cambridge Estate. I know that children go to the present junior school from all over the town and a central location is ideal for everyone.

These proposals seem to be being rushed through with no real thought of their impact on the town or parents and children. I hope that the council does think again and do not know what we will do if they do not.

J Armstrong (Mrs)

Hollin Gate,

Otley.

Positive move

SIR, - At Westgate School we are very pleased that through primary school education is going to be available to all primary school age in children in Otley.

We feel that this is a very positive move forward and we are very much looking forward to our school becoming a three to 11-year-old primary school. We are extremely fortunate at Westgate to have a very strong staff and head teacher who, together will work hard to ensure that the school's best practice and strong ethos is extended into the junior department.

The full junior department curriculum will be put in place, including all aspects of the sport and music curriculum.

The governors at Westgate strongly believe that when the school becomes a through primary it should simply extend, ensuring stability and continuity. We are sure that this is in the best interest of the children.

Conversely, to choose the close/reopen routes proposed in the LEA consultation document would risk losing everything this excellent school stands for. The governors and I will constantly work hard for the children and our school. We would like to thank all the parents who give our school such tremendous, continuing support.

Barbara Crump

Chairman of Governors,

Westgate Infant School,

Scarborough Road,Otley.

Clean-up success

SIR, - Thank you for your coverage on the work to date of Otley's Britain in Bloom 2001.

The annual spring clean on Sunday, April 8, was a real success. The many men, women and children who turned out collected 50 bags of rubbish in less than two hours. People have already commented on the difference this Spring Clean has made to the town.

Thank you to all those people who made the difference last Sunday, and thanks also to the people who continually do their bit to keep Otley a tidier, cleaner town.

Otley, because of its location in the valley and its rural setting, suffers greatly from windborne litter and battles with nature. I ask readers to let the Britain in Bloom team know of areas which would benefit from a thorough clean and tidy up, for the Spring Clean team could only concentrate on the route for the judges.

We are only too aware, however, there is more to do. It is only too evident that residents and business people alike want Otley to be a cleaner environment.

The regional Britain in Bloom event means that here in Otley we can ensure that keeping the town clean remains a priority. I am writing to Leeds City Council Cleansing Department to inquire how, in less than two hours as volunteers, we were able to collect so much rubbish. I await the response with interest.

Otley Britain in Bloom welcomes new people to the team and new ideas. If any readers would like to participate in any way the next meeting is on Wednesday May 9, at 6.30pm in the Civic Centre.

Sylvia Reid

Member of Britain In Bloom,

Ghyll Beck Drive,

Otley.

Lost parking

SIR, - Our home here is just a mile from the centre of Otley, so I usually walk there when I have nothing to carry, to the bank or the doctor for instance, because it is always difficult to park and the exercise is good.

Unfortunately, I damaged my foot about two weeks ago, and made an appointment with the osteopath who has recently come to Boroughgate, and parked outside her rooms as I have done before, and cars were parked all along the road.

I was absolutely horrified when I came out to find a warning on my car that I had parked in a prohibited area and only coaches are allowed there. I then noticed that there was a similar area at the other side of the road, so about eight car parking spaces have been lost.

This is where I normally park when I need to, coming into the town from this side. Why on earth has this been done?

I have been aware of this for about two weeks, so I thought I would go past this area often to see what is happening and I have never seen a coach there.

I suppose some may come in the middle of the summer, but why have they made all this area no parking for cars all the time?

I understand that the shops in Otley are not doing very well, and it is a fact that people who come on coaches do not usually spend as much as car drivers, so I think they are making a big mistake in making it even more difficult for cars to park.

This is the main road into Otley from the main road through Wharfedale, and also from Harrogate. I think it is creating a very bad impression to car drivers to have these large empty spaces, and not to be able to park there.

Clare Smith

91 Pool Road

Otley.

Store is no loss

Sir, - Sainsbury's opting not to build in Otley is not a 'jobs blow' as you reported last week. Their manner is typical of all the supermarkets, who come promising a 'jobs bonanza'.

Councillors, for some reason, always get sucked in by them; they never take the time to look at other towns to see how supermarkets have, in many cases, devastated them. Supermarkets may indeed bring low paid and part-time jobs, but at what price? The closure of traditional shops such as bakers, butchers and greengrocers, that's what.

This is not uniformed opinion, but fact. I know from my experiences of working in the Home Counties. It's a shame there aren't any stocks in Otley, because if Sainsbury's had come along then the aforementioned shopkeepers could have pelted the councillors so in favour of the proposal, with their redundant produce.

Otley does not need a supermarket to give its economy a boost. There are other ways and plenty of other towns managing perfectly well on their history and heritage.

It is interesting that supermarkets claim they will help boost a town's trade. Consultants' reports seem to prove the claim, but such professionals build their reports around what the client wants. Indeed, I would wager that many of the people who shop at Safeway spend their cash then get back in their cars.

I could go on. I could mention the raw deal supermarkets give farmers, the lack of choice they provide, certainly on fruit and veg, and if they are such good value then why such huge profits?

RICHARD HAMER

Guycroft,

Otley.

Tidy-up thanks

SIR, - May I through your letters feature express my thanks to the people who have tidied up Otley.

What a pleasure it has been to walk into the town these past two weeks.

John Thornton

Sunnydale Crescent,

Bradford Road,

Otley.