Last Wednesday, West Sussex County Council (WSCC) boarded up the front windows at Ifield First School which lies empty at the same site of the fully operational Lower Deerswood Special School.

This was done, according to WSCC, to discourage more vandalism and prevent further damage to the two schools.

The following day, a strong complaint was made to WSCC about the plain woodboarding, which made the whole area look condemned, derelict and abandoned, thus encouraging more vandalism, graffiti and damage to the site which is earmarked for a new housing development.

A warning was given that if the woodboarding was not dismantled by tomorrow and the private security company, used by WSCC was not seen to be doing what it was contracted to do (i.e. prevent vandalism and damage), a protest would be organised every Saturday at 11.30am outside the school, with an open-air exhibition chronicling the scandalous story of the site from 1999 onwards.

The day after the complaint was made, WSCC's response was to board-up the back windows of the school as well.

Therefore, the first protest will take place this Saturday at 11.30am outside the site, on the corner of Ifield Green and Rusper Road.

Anyone who wants to save these two Ifield schools, and others, from destruction, should make their presence instantly and strongly felt. Later will be too late.

-Richard W Symonds, Lavington Close, Ifield, Crawley