REGULAR readers of your paper will be aware of the tremendous concern there is in the Forest of Dean about the threat to our special schools from the county council's latest proposals.

Local residents deserve straightforward answers from their politicians as to how they stand on this issue – do they support the county council's proposals to close the special schools or do they support Dean Hall and Oakdene? The Conservative position is clear – we are opposed to the Labour/Lib Dem proposals to close Dean Hall and Oakdene and have been consistently campaigning to keep them open.

Unfortunately, the Forest Labour MP is facing both ways on this issue. In her column in the local press she has said she is 'fully in support of most of the proposals.' Then just a few days ago she suddenly takes the opposite view and is reported as saying she is 'extremely concerned' about the proposals.

Having personally attended five of the six public consultation meetings and visited both threatened schools I know first hand the tremendous support there is in the local community to save Dean Hall and Oakdene from closcure.

Local people deserve a clear statement from their MP as to which way she is facing on this issue. – Mark Harper, Newham Bottom, Ruardean.