Knock a few true blue' heads together IF the closure of local schools were not such a serious blow to our rural communities there would be a degree of irony in watching Philip Dunne MP trying to stem the haemorrhage of support which Conservative councillors on the county council are certain to have brought him.

Worse than that could be councillors who, having voted for the closures, can then support a school threatened by such ill-considered action.Time would be better spent in going to Shirehall and knocking a few true blue' heads together.

John Farley, Bouldon, Craven Arms.

Every school still remains under threat SCHOOLS being amalgamated are still closures in the main and the proposal for Lydbury North is likely to result in this.

There has been a school in the village for 340 years and SCC put in place a policy based on 36 days of public consultation in December 2007.

All primary schools should still fight this policy which is going to have a significant effect across Shropshire.

The school is the heart of the community and if this closed the shop could be the next to go.

Fantastic as it was to see at the Shirehall protest, do not forget us now that we need the support of all. Until this policy is shredded every school remains under threat.

Ian Kidd, Lydbury North.

A brave new world in rural communities?

I WATCHED with horror the December County Council debate which took place merely to ratify the policy of small schools closure in Shropshire.

It was quite enough to make cynical the most ardent political idealist. Now we have had a strategic part withdrawal of that policy.

In all the words that have been uttered to justify a brave new world in traditional rural communities, it is difficult to miss the adaptation of language and meaning that has been ushered in.

David Wilkinson, The Old Bull House, Bishop's Castle.

Threat of snow brings schools to standstill SO the schools decided to close early on Friday with the threat of snow. What's going on with this country? The whole world's gone health and safety mad.

The mere mention of the word snow' is enough to bring activity to a standstill. I'm now looking out of the window. I can't see any snow. I find it ironic that all this week the public have been rallying against the potential reorganisation of schools.

Some of these took the decision to close in the face of a potential snowfall.

Simon Bunn, College Close, Cleobury Mortimer.

Don't drop your guard: schools still not safe THE last few months for small schools has been very difficult and for some that continues to be the case.

This school re-organisation policy has cast a shadow over all of us since September and many of us have been working hard to alert communities of the danger since that time.

Wednesday, January 30, at Shirehall, was a tribute to everyone's efforts to stop this mass closure policy. Please do not sit back now and think it is all over, it may not be. Make sure you are prepared if it comes back to bite us.

We are now faced with a number of amalgamations, which are really school closures for at least three of those schools. I urge you all now to help, in any way possible, those schools that wish to fight this.

I do know that Lydbury North and Clunbury want to stop this from happening to them, as does Oakland's in Bayston Hill.

But please, above all, do not drop your guard. The county has only suspended, not scrapped its policy. My fear is that it now attempts to pick off schools individually once the heat of the mass protest has died away, especially the smaller schools like Barrow and Onny. Let's make sure we keep the pressure up and bury this policy once and for all.

Heather Kidd, Chirbury School Chair of Governors, Chirbury.

Support from one and all was brilliant ONCE again, I am delighted to announce that the annual mega book sale has been a great success, raising a fraction over £4,000 - a magnificent total.

Unfortunately, due to having to attend a funeral in Lincolnshire, I missed the days of the actual sale but would like to especially thank Jan Rose for her sterling work in organising the rota of helpers and stewards.

Also, thanks goes to Malcolm Jones for the delivery of the books to the Assembly Rooms, Carol Slater for use of her garage for storage, John Tilley and Jenny Smallman for helping to price the better items, Roy and other staff members, Liz Woodall who helped to sell better unsold items, all the helpers who sorted the books, etc and the stewards for the sale, some of whom were there for the whole of the two days.

Thanks to the media for their coverage of the sale.

Yet again the support of the public was crucial and the books and other items flooded in and sincerest thanks to all, however large or small your contribution, a real community effort.

The sum raised is crucial to the continued running of the Assembly Rooms and the massive support, I hope, will help to show the few doubters as to the real value of and support that the Ludlow Assembly Rooms has.

Thank you very much.

Coun Peter J Corston, Whitbach Close, Ludlow.

Thank you, now there is less than £1m to go AS Chairman of the Lingen Davies Cancer Centre Appeal, may I thank everyone in the Ludlow area who supported our charity during 2007, and for raising much needed funds for our cause.

The appeal needs to raise in excess of £3m to build a new cancer centre at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, to improve facilities for local cancer patients in the chemotherapy day unit, the haematology department and the head and neck unit.

Due to generous local support, we are now more than £2.3m towards our target, which means there is less than £1m to go.

On behalf of the staff in the oncology department, the haematology unit and the head and neck unit, I would like to thank you and your readers for your invaluable contribution during 2007 and for your continued support.

Dr Rajiv Agrawal, oncologist , Lingen Davies Appeal's Office, Hamar Centre, Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.

Bingo event for Holly was a great success THE bingo in aid of my niece Holly Pitt was a great success. We raised £1,121 for the Rainbow Ward at Shrewsbury Hospital.

I would like to thank everyone for coming and all those who donated the lovely prizes, also all the helpers and the landlord of the Labour Club for his kindness. Dave, Sharon and Holly would like to say a big thank-you to all.

Holly has had her transplant and she is not very well at the moment, but it is early days yet.

I will be holding a big party for her when she comes home and hopefully a nurse may come from Rainbow Ward so Holly can give them the cheque to say thank you.

Barbara Biggs, Clee View, Ludlow.

4:48pm Friday 8th February 2008

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