Why 'enhance' La Mare?

Repairs I can understand but why enhancements. I thought that it was going to be demolished and a £64m. replacement was on the way but that was before the States decided to possibly close it altogether.

I would like to know how this £2m. is going to be spent. I have no children at any schools on the island but it is my money going towards these refurbishments.

Was it a dream or reality when the subject of a multi-million pound sports hall was going to be built within the school grounds so that we could have international teams over here?

I would like to know how many parents of these sportsmen could afford to send their children over here for competition.

JANE BURSILL,

Les Hamelins,

St Peter's.

Editor's note: A spokesman for the Education Department replies:

As yet the States has made no decision on which secondary school will close or when.

It is the Education Department's view that all schools should carry on as they are now and for the foreseeable future. We believe that it is unlikely that any school will close in the next five years.

In the interim it is vital that we are able to maintain La Mare de Carteret High School and Primary School to ensure the learning conditions for our children and young people remain the best we can deliver within the funding made available. We have the support of the States in asking Treasury and Resources for additional money (up to £2m.) to help pay for the necessary repairs and enhancements to ensure La Mare de Carteret Schools are able to operate for a further five years or more.

Works we are planning include:

• Replacing doors and windows.

• Replacing roof coverings.

• Replacing suspended ceilings.

• Replacing floor coverings and carpets.

• Internal re-decoration.

• Upgrading/replacing lighting, electrical systems, temperature and ventilation controls.

• Hard/soft landscaping.

We will be hoping to do some of this work during the summer holidays and the rest of it as soon as possible thereafter to ensure we deliver maximum value for money for the taxpayer.

With regards to the sports hall that was part of the original plans for the redevelopment of La Mare de Carteret schools, the hall is first and foremost for the use of both the high school and primary school on the site and is sized as per Sport England guidelines for schools. The sports hall would be available for community users (both adults and children) after school hours. At no point has the department stated that the hall has been designed for 'international teams'. The enhancements your correspondent refers to allow for seating for up to 500 spectators which would be required whatever age or standard of team was using the facility.

All the information about the size, design and usage of the sports hall, including a detailed business case supported by the Guernsey Sports Commission and the Culture and Leisure Department as well as individual sports groups representing volleyball, netball and basketball have been included in all the Policy Letters presented to the States and are available to download from www.education.gg/LMDC