BASED on the provision in surrounding towns, I feel that Shildon deserves its own new high school.

This feeling is strongly held by the vast majority of the population as ascertained by a significant and representative population through a combination of telephone discussions and discussions in the main street (following strict use of a mask and other suitable PPE).

Ferryhill with a similar population as Shildon (about 10,000) has a high school. Staindrop, with a population of about 2,000, has a high school. Barnard Castle, with a population of about 6,000, has three high schools, as does Spennymoor, with a population of about 20,000 and Bishop Auckland, which has a population of about 24,000. Newton Aycliffe, which also has a population of about 24,000, has three high schools.

Shildon needs and deserves its own high school and I would request that interested people should write of their concerns to their county councillor.

WF Langley, Shildon.