WHITEDOWN Special School has put out a plea for the local community to continue with its support following news that the school could be moving to Bordon.

In a statement issued this week by headteacher Barbara Livings and chairman of governors Wendy Boyle, they talk of "a challenging times ahead" as consultation begins into the possibility of a move. And they urge "please don't abandon us!"

Instigated in part by Whitedown, which has a desperate need to expand it facilities, the proposal to join forces with The Meadow School, Bordon, will form the topic for public discussion at East Hampshire District Council's north west area community committee meeting, to be held at Eggar's School starting at 6-30 pm on Tuesday (September 25).

Committee chairman Jerry Janes told The Herald: "I am pleased that Hampshire County Council will be using the area community committee to consult with local people on this important issue. It is vital that people with an interest in special needs education come along and make sure their views are heard."

Mrs Livings has echoed this sentiment. While ideally Whitedown School would like to stay in Alton because it feels part of the community, she points out that the existing buildings no longer meet pupil needs in terms of space or suitability. It is not possible to rebuild on the existing site because it is too small and new sites in Alton are too expensive.

While no decision has yet been made, one solution is to extend The Meadow School at Bordon which is also desperate to acquire properly resourced facilities. This site can provide the space needed and the idea would be to extend the facilities so that Meadow children can move into them while the existing building is refurbished.

Should such a plan go ahead, a decision would then be made on whether the two schools would continue to operate as separate entities, or whether they would join forces to form one new school.

At the moment Whitedown caters for 35 pupils, ranging in age from two to 19 years, who have a wide range of severe learning difficulties,while The Meadow School has around 110 pupils in the five to 16 age range suffering from moderate learning difficulties.

While The Meadow does not have the range of facilities required by Whitedown pupils, Hampshire County Council has assured heads and governors of both schools that all current facilities, including the hydrotherapy pool, multi-sensory and soft play areas, will be replicated "and hopefully enhanced".

Conscious of the financial support given over the past 30 years to Whitedown pupils by members of the local community, Mrs Boyle pointed out that the school was now making sure that any donations received would be used to purchase transferable equipment.

And, she assured, Whitedown would not be breaking its ties with Alton.

Having established firm links with neighbouring Butts School and with other local heads, the intention is to maintain these links and to continue visiting the town.

"The people of Alton have always been very welcoming to our children and have made us feel part of the community – we hope this will continue.

Alton has facilities Bordon is unable to offer, such as shops and museums, the majority of which are accessible to our pupils, and it is only a short bus journey away so, whatever happens, we will continue to visit."

If a recommendation is made to go ahead with this proposal, the county council will then bid for financial assistance from DfES and this, with the actual building work at Bordon, will take time."

"It is being predicted that the earliest the new school would be ready is autumn 2004," Mrs Livings pointed out. She conceded that, while looking forward to occupying new premises, change was always unsettling.

"Whitedown has always been a small school with a small school atmosphere where people feel cared for and where it has been possible to provide a good education which can be adapted to meet the needs of particular pupils.

"Staff work hard to achieve constant improvement and ensure that pupils get equality of opportunity and as many chances as their mainstream peers to experience a normal school life.

"While a move to a bigger environment may cause some anxiety, it will mean improved facilities and pupils will still benefit from the same level of care, with continuity provided by the same experienced staff who generate that secure and caring atmosphere."

Other items on Tuesday's north west area community committee agenda will include: a presentation of the Beech village appraisal; consideration of funding for the Basingstoke Dial a Ride service, and consideration for action to address issues raised at previous meetings.