The LEA must try harder next time

SIR - How must Bradford LEA feel at the moment, with the prospect of their proposals to close six Bradford schools in ashes? Tough luck.

I am a parent of children who attend Hoyle Court Primary school in Baildon and I have to take my hat off to the many parents and staff who have spent hours campaigning against the closure. I certainly believe that this schools' hard work has been the catalyst to the downfall of the LEA's plans.

But what a shambles these last few weeks have been. Next time the LEA puts a plan up to close schools they had better do their homework better as there are many parents who will ask them to "try harder" and don't make so many "careless mistakes" in their research.

Mrs D Morton, St Aidan's Road, Baildon

SIR - What is going on with the educational needs of the children of Bradford district? We have a consultation exercise being undertaken on behalf of the Tory/Lib-Dem coalition thrown into chaos by the petty bickering between the two parties.

We have the Lib-Dem portfolio-for-education holder, Councillor David Ward, admitting that he has no idea what is going on. Just what is he doing for the extra salary he receives for being a portfolio holder?

On the same night on the Letters page we have M Pollard attacking the previous chairman of education, Susanne Rooney, who following her review and Jim Flood's before her succeeded in bringing £170 million investment for the rebuilding of the schools infrastructure. This has led to vast improvements in the education environment our children are taught in.

Come on Councillor Ward, get your finger out. This is our children's lives and their future you have no idea about. Either shape up or ship out.

Andrew Stone, Crystal Terrace, Bradford 4

SIR - As a parent of a child who attends Ley Top Primary I would like to know how Bradford can be the Capital of Culture 2008 when the present council is doing its best to make sure that there will not be any schools around for our children to learn anything about culture in the first place?

When Bradford gets placed last in the government SATS results ,will these councillors be the first to stand up and admit that they were wrong, or will it be the teachers' fault yet again because the classrooms were too full?

If we are to attract people into the Bradford area, education is the first thing on a parent's mind. If this Council keeps on spending millions on regenerating areas, then take away the education, maybe it should be boasting Bradford City of Closures 2008.

Paul Lofts, Lower Grange, Bradford

SIR - I'm prepared to be amazed but tell me if I've got this right. The ruling Council coalition - Tories and Liberals - launches proposals to close a number of schools. Predictably they are not well received.

As the going gets rougher, both parties look the other way and blame "the officers".

Finally the Tory nerve cracks, the proposals are pulled even before the consultation period has ended, officers are left "in despair", and poor old Councillor Ward is well and truly hung out to dry.

Coun Ward at least gets the benefit of a lesson in the hazards of supping with the Devil. But at what cost to others? Either there are significant, long-term surplus places in the system, in which case they are a drain on the schools budget and should be removed, or there aren't, in which case someone needs a new calculator.

But there are fresh questions raised by such an epic piece of true blue funk, including this one for Serco's lawyers: if Serco miss their gold-plated targets again next year, how much of the liability will they be able to pin on this mismanagement by the Council? Or were Serco pulling the strings all along?

Jim Flood, Redburn Drive, Shipley

SIR - The question posed on the front of your October 8 edition ("What's going on?") is one campaigners at the closure-threatened schools have been asking for months.

Schools have put well-researched and compelling arguments to political groups - not as part of a back-door, back-handed lobby, but as part of an official consultation process. Councillors have listened to local people, been convinced by their arguments and now intend to act accordingly.

These proposals were transparent from the start. Labour saw that and the Conservatives have had the courage to admit they were wrong.

Councillor Ward bemoans not being consulted. Woodlands Primary wasn't consulted either. We heard about these proposals from the Telegraph & Argus. I welcome the suspension of the process because it means common sense has prevailed over bad proposals and now the LEA can explore more realistic options.

If Coun Ward had asked more questions in the first place we would not be in this position now.

Dan Howard, Mill Carr Hill Road, Lower Woodlands, Oakenshaw.

SIR - Re your lead story on October 8 regarding the consultation on possible school closures.

It is wrong to claim that "the school closures originally had the support of Liberal Democrat and Conservative members....".

What did have support of both groups was that there should be consultation on a set of proposals produced exclusively by the Council's officers. Neither party endorsed the detail of the proposals; in fact the Liberal Democrats take serious issue with some of the suggestions.

But we were happy that there should be an open, honest and unbiased debate on the officer proposals as a first step to refining them. So, "yes" to consultation, but without any endorsement.

Councillor John Cole, Oakroyd Terrace, Shipley

SIR - Bradford Council's Conservative Group have not made a u-turn over school closures. We have decided what our position is on the matter. We have done this having read and discussed the Liberal Democrat closure proposals and having listened to the views of six out of seven schools recommended for closure. It is the Conservative Group's quite proper and legitimate contribution to the consultation process.

It would have been wrong for us to have done nothing about reducing surplus places - tempted though we were to go along with the Labour Party. What we have done is conclude that the reduction could be achieved without closing five of the schools - Hoyle Court, Ley Top, Woodlands, Westwood Park and Cooper Lane.

If I might help the Liberal Democrats in their hour of need - try suggesting to officers that they prepare options to reduce places that do not involve closing schools. And then consult with the schools over these options. Jumping around calling foul and claiming ignorance simply doesn't wash.

Simon Cooke (Deputy Leader, Conservative Group, Bradford Council), Chellow Terrace, Chellow Dene, Bradford

SIR - Who is behind this war on Iraq? Let's drop the pretences, at least for a moment, and acknowledge the geographic and political reality: this is a war to make the world safe for a Greater Israel.

Thousands of Americans and British troops, at the very least, may die for this cause without ever being told about it. They'll be told by our war birds that we're fighting "terrorism", building "democracy", and saving "the children".

George Bush and Tony Blair Will always be among the most useful of Israel's idiots, if not the most idiotic. War on Iraq was decided at the Israeli Knesset so they can justify the genocide of the remaining Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza.

Jamil Rehman, Toller Lane, Bradford 9

SIR - Once again councillors are to get large increases in payments.

Councillor Eaton and colleagues are against free bus passes for pensioners because there is not money available to pay for this.

But does the Council understand that by their greed for more pay we have to pay more council tax?

So come on all you pensioners and fight this extra tax while the pigs are in the trough once again.

J R Smith (Bradford North Alliance), Flawith Drive, Fagley.

SIR - Your report that plans are under way for the big revamp of Manningham Mills, right, is marvellous news, really good for Bradford and for riot-strewn Manningham.

Restoring an active economic heart will be part of the process of healing the catastrophic segregations between Punjabi, Bangladeshi, Kashimiri and white English peoples.

This faces realities so long suppressed by the complacent and ignorant.. Thank you Simon Cooke and David Kennedy for staying faithful to this positive vision of Bradford's potential and significant future. Manningham Mills Community Association is with you all the way !

The Rev George Moffat, chairman, Manningham Mills Community Association