Sir, – In reply to Mr T Lowey’s rant (D&S letters, April 12) about Suttonunder-Whitestonecliffe’s Parish Council, perhaps it would do him no harm to establish some facts.

Sutton-under-Whitestonecliffe PC never has had or ever would have had any authority to close a school.

The decision to close the school was precipitated by the school and parent governors at the time by preparing a plan for a new school.

Hambleton District Council passed these plans and then NorthYorkshire County Council was not prepared to fund this new school. Hence, regretably for the community it served, the school was closed.

The school house he refers to was actually the old village hall (a traditional old tin tabernacle) occupied by the school which was declared unfit for purpose when it politically suited the then school governors.

The original school building is now entirely fitforpurposeandis fulfilling a useful community need.

The new village hall is a fine and useful building being increasingly used as its value is recognised but by the tone of his letter Mr Lowey is trying toundermine its growing success.

During a difficult time for the parish council and the village hall committee when these changes he refers to were taking place I was chairman ofthe parish council and at no time did Mr Lowey make any representations at our meetings.

The whole matter needs laying to rest, a typhoon in a tea saucer but causing concern for the village hall committee. The bus shelter was erected by the county council at the parish council’s request to celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee to shelter school children waiting for the school bus in wet weather. Whether they choose to use it is entirely up to them.

JOHN GOODALL Sutton, Thirsk.