ALL the people who have written to the Gazette about the new secondary school suggest they were at the public meeting at Davenant Foundation School.

But it appears to me they obviously could not have been listening to the council officials as all the complaints made were either thrown out as nonsense or answered in full.

Peter Hodge (county council education officer) stressed quite strongly that the building was to be only two-storey -- the equivalent of the surrounding houses and would be behind trees and the allotments. The whole complex would be cut into the hill so it would not be obtrusive in any way.

It has been stated at several meetings which I attended, and in newsletters, that the area already allocated as the catchment zone will fill the quota already suggested for this new school.

Theydon Bois children will stay in the St John's, Epping, catchment areas as in the past, and as they obviously want.

It was also suggested that Buckhurst Hill Boys School could be compulsorily purchased. I am afraid by law this cannot happen as you can only complete this action if there is no other option, which I am pleased to say there is.

Mr Knight (Gazette letters, August 6) said if the feelings expressed at the public meeting were anything to go by, then the council was not listening to electors.

I would like to stress that these officials are doing just that. They have heard from local residents over the last 18 months that this school is exactly what we want, from public meetings, letters and petitions which many people from Willingale Road and the Loughton area signed and were very willing to sign.

Mr Relph (Gazette letters, August 6) stated the Buckhurst Hill Boys School was available again for purchase. Could he please explain to the community and the councillors where this information was obtained from this time?

Or is it just gossip again? Gossip which will leave our children without secondary school places to go to. He adds that this site is a suitable distance from residential dwellings.

I understand two things from this statement. He obviously doesn't want our children to have a school in their local community to which they could walk, therefore creating less traffic. And he obviously doesn't have children of his own and doesn't have to be concerned for their safety.

As to his comments about the Buckhurst Hill Boys site being opened within a year and also being a much cheaper alternative, he never read the council-issued newsletters stating that the building would have to be partly demolished in the interests of safety, and the time and cost factor compared with the Willingale Road site is negligible.

I would like to end by stating the majority of children and parents in the Loughton north area (not Debden, as is often stated as there is no postal address in this area under that title) want this new school to be built and want it done quickly so they will have a secondary school to go to.

AILEEN HUNTER,

Pyrles Green,

Loughton.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.