IN response to the remarks of Councillor Bill Taylor and Councillor Kathy Stephenson on the review of special schools in Blackburn and Darwen (Letters, March1), historically, the Blackamoor Special School campus has long been part of Blackburn's heritage.

The original Open Air School built on the site in 1939 was to serve Blackburn children.

Over the 60 years since, this school has progressed and developed to accommodate children who are delicate, have a physical disability and those with specific needs.

In the 1970s, the renamed Dame Evelyn Fox School was moved from Gladstone Street complete with headteacher, staff and pupils - all Blackburn-based.

The nursery unit, hydrotherapy pool and medical block were all built with money supplied by the Blackburn centre of the then Spastics Society.

When the school was handed over to Lancashire, Blackburn had put plans in place for redevelopment which Lancashire honoured. The result is the unique resourced complex in place today.

All the expertise built up over the years is now in danger of being lost to the Blackburn with Darwen authority in their rationalisation plans.

It will take considerably longer than the intervening 20 years for this expertise to be regained.

Blackburn was a proud authority, acknowledging its heritage and using it as a stepping stone for future progress. Is the new authority prepared for the consequences of ignoring such a heritage?

MAJORIE ASPEN (MISS), Teacher, Blackamoor Special School, Roman Road, Blackburn.

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