THE two objectors to the closure of the right of way through St Peter's School do not seem to understand how the security of 940 pupils, some of whom are boarders and therefore live on the site, can in any way be compromised.

Perhaps the dog walker, Daphne Taylor, would like to explain exactly when she "polices the path and stops unlawful activity" (January 20)? There are some dog walkers who do not clear up after their pets, thus causing a health risk to our pupils. Does she do anything about that?

Mr Crowe asks: "Where are the lurking paedophiles...?" (January 18). If we knew that, surely we would have informed the relevant authorities.

We aim not to keep our children fenced in, but rather to keep those "potential abductors" out, so that the young children here are not scared out of their wits by a stranger who has made their way on to the school premises.

He thinks that "our aim is to turn the school into a virtual prison". Which other school has a footpath running right through it? How many times do the belongings and freedoms of our pupils and staff have to be violated before the unlawful activities happen in such numbers to justify the closure?

J P Clenaghan,

St Olave's School,

Clifton,

York.

Updated: 09:33 Wednesday, February 01, 2006