IN response to comments in an article published in The Bolton News, January 21.

I realise Mr Griffiths is very upset, naturally, about the closure of Christ Church CE School by the Schools Organisation committee. This is the body which has the authority to close a school. However, apportioning all the blame to the LA is a little disingenuous.

As I expressed in the statement I made last week, it is always sad to see a school close but, ultimately, the number of children attending a school, and therefore its long term viability, must be taken into consideration. Christ Church has just 34 pupils and 24 of these children are transferring to secondary schools in September.

This trend of falling rolls is not a new phenomenon but has been occurring in this area over several years and there was no prospect of a reversal. Unfortunately, there are simply not enough children in the area for the school to teach. The reality is that the cost of maintaining a school with such falling rolls leads to an adverse financial impact on all the other schools in the borough where numbers are maintained. Six other schools in this area with similar issues have, in recent times, successfully come together to make three schools.

On several occasions, the LA explored similar options with the Christ Church governors in a genuine attempt to give this school community a lifeline.

Sadly, but as was their right, the options were rejected by Mr Griffiths and his fellow governors and now we find ourselves in the position of there being no other option left but closure.

I cannot comment on the letter sent to parents in September 2005 referred to by Mr Griffiths, as the Labour Party were not the executive at the time and therefore not involved.

Although I have sympathy for Mr Griffiths, who has given years of service to what was recognised as a good school and is rightly proud of the work the school has done in the local community, eventually it became necessary to look at the bigger picture and to consider the equity of resources to all children across the borough.

Linda Thomas Executive Member for Children's Services