I FEEL I have to write to express my disgust at the proposal to close East Bierley School.
Closing the school and making all the children travel to Birkenshaw, as in the other two options offered in the current proposals, would have a severely detrimental effect on the village.
The traffic going through the village is already out of han
d and closing the school would increase traffic even more. Children benefit greatly from being able to walk to their local school and prefer to walk than have to travel by car.
Kirklees should be trying to decrease pollution levels, not increase them. Petrol prices have also become prohibitive and many parents would struggle to meet the added expense of travelling out of the village to get their young children to school.
Home schooling is being seriously considered by many faced with this position.
East Bierley village post office has already closed down, which has reduced the community spirit of the village and meant many people, including the elderly, have to make unnecessary journeys out of the village.
Closing the school would probably mean that the village pre-school would also close, and it currently provides excellent pre-schooling for under fives living in the village. The pre-school pays rent to St Luke's Church and a loss of income to the church of such a large amount would no doubt result in the church closing.
Why have two schools so close together in Birkenshaw when there is a perfectly good school, in fact an outstanding school waiting for a few minor improvements?
An extension, within the footprint of the school, is all that is needed to make room for the two extra classrooms required. Play facilities can be extended onto the common land surrounding the school, as a very generous offer by a third party means the common land can be recreated a few metres away. There are also the football and rugby pitches on Hunsworth Lane which I understand are available for use by the school, within easy walking distance.
Children join the school at the age of four and to make young pupils join a school so far away from home is cruel.
I hope everybody's comments are taken into consideration before the outcome of the consultations are made public and I hope East Bierley First School remains open and can therefore remain outstanding.
MRS JE TOWNSON
South View Road
EAST BIERLEY
