I READ the letter (June 2) from Mr and Mrs Bullock about high school places with growing concern.

As a parent governor in Ramsbottom, I am able to see both sides of this argument and I agree entirely that it should not have happened. But has anyone seriously thought about the future of those children who do live in Ramsbottom, with Woodhey as their first-choice school and with all the building work going-on?

We have just one high school for Ramsbottom and its catchment area. That school is bursting at the seams; the corridors are a health and safety nightmare! Ramsbottom can't be far behind Bury now in terms of its number of residents -- and look how many schools there are in Bury. I read in the same Bury Times of permission given for yet more building, no fewer than 78 luxury homes! Do we really need more houses? What about all the additional children that this will bring into the area? What about all the already empty houses?

Mr and Mrs Bullock point out that after Woodhey had filled its catchment quota this year, there were only eight places left. Those eight places will go a long way to accommodating the children from the huge new development at Holcombe Brook (still with empty houses), the new development directly outside the school and now even more houses situated near Nuttall Lane. The time will soon be upon us when there won't be enough room for all the "eligible, first choice, catchment area" children of Ramsbottom.

Do Bury Council not think it is time to look at either considerably extending Woodhey (and not just portable buildings) or even building another school? Was this even considered when councillors gave permission for more houses? Incidentally, there are plenty of houses for sale in Ramsbottom so why build more?

It should be our Ramsbottom school for our Ramsbottom children first and foremost, though my real concern is about what will happen when Woodhey is full and there are still Ramsbottom children who want to go there? And, yes, I agree that siblings already attending a school should add considerable weight to the decision-making process.

I await developments, though I'd better not hold my breath!

BEMUSED PARENT