THE FIGHT to save the Forest's two special schools, Dean Hall and Oakdene, is growing increasingly bitter with an accusation this week that the county council is deliberately keeping parents in the dark.

Closure notices have been posted at both Forest schools and a notice has also appeared in a regional evening newspaper informing people they have until November 12 to object.

But Dean Hall Parent Governor Wendy Wilding said: " We were waiting for it to appear in the Review which as Dean Hall is in the Forest would have been the sensible thing to do, unless you don't want people to object."

Mrs Wilding and other governors and parents are urging everyone in the Forest to send in objections as soon as possible.

Both schools are due to close in August 2005 and be replaced by a new special school at Dean Hall and a life skills centre in Cinderford.

"The whole issue of a new £2 million school is a complete farce. No-one in Shire Hall or the Cabinet will give us any precise details of what they are planning and this has been the same all the way through - a complete lack of communication to any of us at Dean Hall.

"The only information we are sure of is that of the £2 million build, very little benefit will come the way of the type of children who are at present thriving in Dean Hall and whose entry Gloucestershire LEA are systematically cutting year on year."

Mrs Wilding said funding for a new school was far from secure and the £2 million cost was at best an estimate based on current prices and did not include the cost of the Life Skills centre at Cinderford.

She said many people felt let down by Forest Labour councillors who all said they supported the fight to save Dean Hall and were then made to toe the party line.

"They turned their backs on us," she said.

"There have been warnings of budget cuts throughout the county, and Shire Hall issued a statement last week that it could mean learning support workers losing their jobs.

"If this is the case, children with learning difficulties will not stand a chance of coping in mainstream schools so Dean Hall should definitely remain open and good use made of the room that is at present available there.

"Dean Hall has a wonderful expertise for children who have learning problems and there are at least 40 places that could be filled to ease the problems in mainstream schools," she said.

•Caroline Jackson MEP (Con South West) is to visit Dean Hall on Friday.