CONSERVATIVE local election candidate Jonathan Meehan's assertion that the villagers of Church Fenton owe their two new classrooms and nursery unit to the Tories (April 12) is laughable.

Capital spending in schools is funded out of allocations made by central Government.

A parliamentary answer to Selby MP John Grogan last week revealed that Government capital allocations in North Yorkshire schools have increased from £4 million in the last year of Tory Government in 1996-97 to £51 million in 2003-2004. That is why Kirk Fenton primary school is next year experiencing the biggest investment in its buildings since it was built.

The pity is that if the Tories ever get the chance to implement their promised 20 per cent public expenditure cuts nationally, many other village schools will lose out.

Bill Tinsley,

Labour candidate,

Cawood with Wistow Ward,

Maypole Gardens,

Cawood.

Updated: 10:53 Thursday, April 17, 2003