THE battle to save village schools rages on, with the governments, past and present, ignoring declarations to "keep open village schools", not to mention the latest comments from the new Secretary of State for Education to boost support with more money for such schools.

The real position today is that local politicians with vested interests are allowed to close our village schools at will and to set up school organisation committees, which are well instructed in the art of "rubber stamping" any proposals put to them by the local authority, of course in favour of the authority.

To date, such committees have closed hundreds of rural schools in England, and note they have no appeal against such decisions. Such schools can of course apply for a judicial review in London, in fact some schools have attempted this form of appeal. But, to their regret, they have found the attitude of judges in London is that they are hostile to their case. Evidence is very clear that the courts have no intention to interfere with national and local politics.

My very strong advice to all schools is this. You will only obtain justice in appealing direct to The European Court For Human Rights in Strasbourg. This court will not be concerned with politics or vested interests, but rather with whether or not the UK has breached one or more of the Convention's articles.

Please note that England has been found guilty of breaching the articles of the Convention more times than any other member country since 1955. Of course, the UK accepted the court's Convention for Human Rights as now part of UK law, but, in practice, will pick and choose what it will accept..

Any individual can submit, without cost, an application to the European court, and remember that many of the schools so far closed have had their fundamental rights breached under certain articles of the Convention.

My second bit of advice to the people involved is this: in May local elections, use your vote for your school's and children's future. Your town hall is in dire need of a blood transfusion.

Remember: a government for the people, by the people and of the people. Not a government for the government, by the government, of the government.

Robert M Goodman

Red Bridge

Bolton