DR George Lord's letter on December 9 regarding the Wyre Forest education review states the £160 million investment purely to be in buildings. So there will be no funds to purchase materials, books, or other equipment.

The letter goes on to mention falling numbers of children. But if schools are closed and then the birth rate increases in the future, so will class sizes, or do the condemned schools magically re-open on demand?

The remainder of the letter is made up of emotional blackmail ("I believe that any further delay is unnecessary and will further undermine morale in the schools").

How can trying to fight to keep schools open undermine morale?

Also, Dr Lord comments about what this restructuring will bring as he states: "I am confident that the proposals will enhance the education provision." But in the final paragraph he then states: "We needed to put in place a first class education system fit for the 21st century and this is what we have done." But again there is nothing to back this up, and no denial of redundancies.

The final point has to be that if the system is failing, put it in words so that we can be aware. All we see in the schools are standards rising, as detailed by the Ofsted reports those doomed to closure continually receive?

I really do not understand how Dr Lord, as the leader of the county council fails to put over a stronger argument than this, and can only use phrases such as "tired-looking" to justify his argument for closures.

Dr Lord has failed, along with his county council colleagues, to prove this so-called investment in education is nothing more than cuts disguised as a review.

Dr Lord, I ask again, as a parent and ratepayer, please give us more facts and figures.

ANTHONY UPTON

Parents 4 St Barnabas

Trustee Barnabees Nursery

Birchfield Road

Kidderminster