I HAVE read with interest and concern various articles which have appeared in your paper relating to the shortage of school places.

What I fail to understand is in my lifetime, Crayborne, Walsingham, Charterhouse, St Mary's and St Joseph's and Ramsden Boys' secondary schools have closed and the land sold (the latter amalgamated with Ramsden Girls' School and was renamed Priory but only uses Ramsden Girls' School's site).

Houses have been built on all of these sites, which of course has led to, or will lead to, an increase in children requiring a school place.

Now, we have two, three, four and even five-bedroom houses being built on Orpington Hospital's grounds and this will undoubtedly result in yet more children in Bromley borough needing a school place!

Bromley Council has now been trying to find a site on which to build a new school, then it will have to get around to building it and Bromley taxpayers will ultimately pay for it I suppose. This will be a bit steep if Bromley's children can't get a place in one of Bromley's schools!

Name and

address supplied

July 9, 2001 11:50