IT doesn't surprise me that our new Lib. Dem. councillor is carrying on the policy he adopted as a candidate and jumping on to whichever bandwagon happens to be going past.

Nor should it surprise me that he is siding with the residents living around King William Street over the proposed relocation of Rose Hill Special School before he has found out the facts.

"Nip it in the bud" says Robert. "We are not having a residential area frightened to death by a bunch of unruly children." Facts and Robert have often been strangers.

What does surprise me is that the said councillor is himself a governor of a special school - set in a residential area, so he really should know better. As a near neighbour of that same school (practically next door), I can assure Tyldesley residents that special schools cause less disturbance and traffic than ordinary schools - the pupils are fewer in number and the vast majority are brought directly to school by minibus.

As for the type of children who will be attending, and ridiculous allegations of "prison", "approved school" or "borstal", other correspondents with direct and recent experience of special education dealt with those issues.

Perhaps Cllr Bleakley could remind himself that he is a governor of a special school, and that a little consistency of approach demonstrates far more responsibility than courting easy popularity.

He could remind himself that all children deserve appropriate education, and that special schools are part of the provision of that appropriate education.

Or does his branch of the Wigan Liberal Party have a policy for children with special educational needs which he hasn't yet told us about?

Charles Hopkinson

Bolton Road

Atherton

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