SEVERAL questions arise from the proposed closure and possible relocation of Christ Church School that nobody seems willing to answer. As a local resident of Harwood, I chose to send my children to Longsight as it was within walking distance, literally just around the corner. If Christ's Church stays in its current location, it would mean taking the children to school by car. Has any consideration been given to the extra volume of traffic that would be around the school, on a main route into Bolton centre, at the rush hour? This also poses a question about the children's safety in the area. Whichever location is chosen, we have been told children will have to be accommodated in Portakabins. What is the sense in closing fine, recently-refurbished buildings to house children in little more than sheds?

At a recent meeting it was stated there were enough school places to relocate children, but what real choice do parents living in the centre of Harwood, as I do, really have? St Maxentius, St Brendan's and Christ Church are all church-funded schools, leaving only Harwood Meadows, already full to capacity and usually over-subscribed, and Hardy Mill, which has only a few spare places, if any. Where will non-practising Christians go? What criteria will these schools have for accepting pupils? Will we have to resort to the secondary schools' admission policy for a primary place? If Longsight closes, what is going to happen to the land? Will there be new houses, therefore more children! Where will they have to go to get a school place?

The closure of Longsight does not just affect the pupils; the school is an integral part of the community. There is a pre-school Playgroup and a Kids Club for pre/after-school care, based on the premises. These groups offer care for children from all around the area, not just the pupils, and give working parents peace of mind that their children are well looked after. The large playing fields offer space for several sports clubs to use in the evening. The questions then start again. What will happen to the school club? Will parents have to give up their employment? Where are the places needed for the pre-school children? Where will the sport clubs have to go?

Finally, the main question we are all asking is, why close a school that has recently performed better in exams than the main school, plus further outlying schools, they intend to move our children to?

L M Holden (parent)

Brook Gardens

Harwood

Bolton