School loss huge blow to residents

BRAVO, Shuaib Khan.

Your letter mirrors exactly the sentiments I have heard from very many residents of Bretton.

I distributed the Focus newsletter reporting on draft plans to build a new school in Bretton and lamenting the stupidity of those who decided to close Bretton Woods School.

I am pleased that this has sparked a debate on the subject.

I would like to expand on one aspect of your letter: the “community-less Bretton”.

Almost everyone I have spoken to laments the loss of the school for the community no less than for the children’s education.

The school provided a focus for the Bretton community.

There was a vibrant swimming club, folk dance club, line dancing, various U3A groups met there and there were at least 20 sessions of music teaching and practice after school hours.

I expect that there were also many other activities that helped to make the school the centre of our community.

All of this was lost to Bretton when the school was demolished.

Some activities have ceased completely, while some have moved to other areas.

For example, Peterborough Folk Dance Club now meets in Marholm, but this is not accessible to those without private transport.

The site currently earmarked for the new school, if it is ever built, is at the edge of Bretton so will not be as accessible as Bretton Woods.

MALCOLM POLLACK Peterborough Liberal Democrats