I note with dismay that Worces-tershire County Council has decided to close Malvern Hills Primary School, despite local opposition.

All three of my children attended the school and received a very good standard of education. The decision to close the school rather than address the issues facing it are symptomatic of this authority's cut and run attitude.

The school should be given time and funding to assist in alleviating any problems. I am sure that funding must be available due to the exorbitant Council Tax rises foisted on the residents every year.

It is not good enough to state that education is the primary concern. There are a lot of mitigating social and economic factors to consider also. The disastrous break up of local communities in the fifties and sixties should be lesson enough for the local authority to consider an extension of the school lifetime.

The focus here needs to be on the impact on the community and, more importantly, the effect this would have on the children's future.

Perhaps the council members would like to come out of their offices, where they live in palatial splendour no doubt, and discuss this with the people it affects.

Jimmy Blair, Campion Drive, Malvern.