PARENTS across East Lancashire are being urged to condemn a Lancashire County Council report on the future of education in the area and push for a new high school.

Stuart Finch, chairman of the Ribble Valley Schools for Ribble Valley Children and the 'And Counting...' campaigns, is urging parents to send letters of objection to LCC following the publication of its draft school organisation plan for 2000 to 2005.

Mr Finch said that the report contained a detailed review of the education system and highlights the need for 500 more high schools places in the Ribble Valley.

"The plan talks about the need to create 500 new places, but doesn't actually address that need or hint at a solution," said Mr Finch.

He said a new secondary school was desperately needed in the Ribble Valley because of the huge increase in new houses which has pushed up the numbers of youngsters needing schools places. "Our opinion is that the document falls woefully short in the area covering future shortages and an action plan to resolve the issue," he said.

Mr Finch added that campaigners attended a public meeting at Ribblesdale School, Clitheroe, in May, which was chaired by chairman of LCC's education and cultural services committee County Coun Hazel Harding. The director of education and cultural services directorate, Chris Trinick and head of pupil services Ken Wales, were also on hand to answer questions. But their reactions were not satisfactory.

On the likely shortfall of secondary school places for 2001, the panel said that it was too early to comment and that the greatest shortage was likely to be in 2002. They couldn't say which parts of the Ribble Valley could be affected by a shortage of places.

"The answers were less than encouraging. In short, the answers we received were far from satisfactory, particularly as any new school built starting today -- and it won't be -- would take between three and five years to complete," said Mr Finch.

He added that if parents care about the future of secondary education in the Ribble Valley, they are strongly urged to look at the plan and write to the Head of Member Services, PO Box 78, County Hall, Preston, before July 31.