Published at 09:46, Friday, 05 March 2010

I would like to express my deep concern at the proposed use of Prudhoe West First School’s playing field to provide a site for a new fire station in Prudhoe.

As an ex-chairman of governors of the school, I am amazed that our county council could sanction such a move.

During my time of service on the governing body, which began around 1984, I have witnessed a huge improvement in the facilities available within the school as well as a similar improvement in teaching under the leadership of a very dedicated headteacher Alan Keenleyside.

In order to facilitate the provision of a much needed modern building on land to the east of the three current buildings, the governors suggested that the playing field could be sold as building sites for housing, providing a substantial part of the finance required.

Our request was refused. One reason given was that access to the A695 could not be given for road safety reasons.

About 20 years on, in spite of the huge increase of traffic levels, we find that the fire service is granted that right of access!

Even more surprisingly, this access appears to be within very few metres of the entrance to the school.

Further to this, the road crossing for pupils at this point is also used by pupils from the middle and high schools.

This warden-controlled crossing is near the brow of a hill and a bend on this very busy road.

I would suggest that a better site for the fire station is just off the Prudhoe by-pass, near to the Hammerite paint factory.

It can hardly be described as a green field site as claimed by the fire and rescue service.

ARNOLD BELL,

Prudhoe

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