However, in agreement with Suffolk County Council, I feel that we should look forward to operating schools in a hard federation.
This would ensure the best standards of education for Haverhill.
I feel Mr Cox's point is somewhat true that perhaps a 'bog- standard' two-tier system may do, but I would just like to see the implementation of a hard federation so schools in Haverhill can operate together.
Why put up with 'bog-standard' education, when we can go that little bit further with proven and radical measures.
My real issue at this precise moment is with the action group CLARE.
The reason is why I have an issue with the action group is because I sense that the reason they want a school in Clare is that they are not prepared to send their children to Haverhill, which they may feel is not good enough for them.
Harsh though it may sound, speaking to numerous people, this is the general consensus of the reason CLARE is campaigning for a separate school.
If Suffolk County Council had no financial restraint, Clare might get a secondary school, but they have, and in practical terms it would be unfair on the tax-payers to have to see an increase in tax so an unneccesary third school can be built for a very small number of students.
Yes, Clare Middle School is a high achieving school, but this is down to their students.
If their students were to come to Haverhill, they would do just as well and it is irrelevant what school they would go to.
The statement by Clare parish councillor Keith Haisman that the school axe would rip the heart out of the Clare community is somewhat exaggerated.
Clare is a small village, and it is at the moment very fortunate to have a middle school.
Kedington, Thurlow, Hundon, Wickhambrook, Horseheath, Balsham, Castle Camps, Wratting... the list is endless, do not have middle schools or upper schools.
Why then does CLARE feel that it has to have a secondary school even, though most villages in the United Kingdom do not?
The closure of a school in Clare is not catastrophic.
The students will be able to choose out of two excellent schools in Haverhill which will get even better when the two-tier system is put in place.
Yes, it is a 25-minute drive to Haverhill but, by county council rules, students who live six miles away from their school are given free transport.
Yes, it is further for the children of Clare, but unfortunately that's life.
The harsh reality of living in a village is that the children have to travel outside the village to get to school.
The statement also by Mr Haisman, that 'Clare will be less attractive for people to move to if they have older children' is very untrue.
They can see Clare is in the proximity of two excellent schools in a developing town where opportunities are getting increasingly better for everybody, and that they can live in the preferred rural surroundings of Clare, but can enjoy high quality education in Haverhill.
I do understand slightly where the people of Clare are coming from, but wouldn't it be worse if Clare did get a secondary school and then one of the two excellent schools that are already functioning in Haverhill had to be closed down – which would mean only one secondary school in Haverhill?
Half of Haverhill's students would have to travel to Clare, which would mean the county council would have to pay for them to get school which would be economically and practically ludicrous.
Unfortunately sometimes in life you have to put up with what you have got and frankly the protestors in Clare will have to deal with students in Clare travelling to Haverhill.
Really it's not as bad as you think.
LIAM PLUMRIDGE,
Beaufort Court,
Haverhill.