Dear, oh dear, oh dear. Coun Redstone believes the Tories saved local schools from closure.

When you consider that they played no part in the campaign, they kept changing their minds about school closures and even in the crucial committee they were irrelevant, then that claim beggars belief.

They'll be telling us next that 18 years of Thatcher and Major were the best days of our lives and the miners' strike was a misunderstanding.

Coun Redstone's claim that the schools were saved by the Conservatives is arrogance of the highest order and a cruel insult and slur on the parents, teachers, governors and pupils of the schools affected.

In the end analysis not one party saved the schools. The schools saved the schools - and it is disgraceful that Conservatives should ignore the community response to threats to local schools.

It was bad enough our MP and some Labour representatives had earlier dismissed school campaigners as a small extremist group, but at least they accepted their existence and the part they played.

No Coun Redstone. You and your colleagues did not save anything.

It was the local people, concerned and angry that popular, full and successful local schools should be considered for closure following a deeply flawed consultation process.

And, if you fancy replying to this letter, may I make a suggestion? Start with the words I apologise'.

COUN VIC D'ALBERT, Liberal Democrat