TRADE unions have pledged support to parents who are fighting to save a primary school.

The Swindon Trades Union Congress has offered to lead a campaign against the closure of Salt Way primary school.

Union representatives have already met with staff and parents to discuss the situation and have said they will to do all they can to save the school.

Swindon Council has decided to close the school in Middleleleaze, West Swindon, in principle by January 2006 because of falling pupil numbers.

A consultation is currently underway and a final decision will be made by the end of the year.

Martin Wicks, who is secretary of the Swindon TUC, said: "It seems crazy to close down what is one of the better schools in the area.

"The staff are a really dedicated bunch of people and the building and grounds are great.

"It is particularly crazy to close the school bearing in mind the fact that there are not enough school places available in the area for the children of Salt Way when it closes.

"This whole thing seems like an incredible waste of resources."

Staff and parents held a meeting in the town yesterday to discuss campaign tactics.

Mr Wicks believes that the decision to close the school was made too quickly and without proper consultation with parents and staff.

"When the news came out that the school might close the council said nothing would happen before 18 months or two years," he said.

"Then we hear within two weeks that a decision has been made in principle and that it might close as soon as January 2006.

"People feel very aggrieved about this and the fact that there wasn't a long enough consultation."

He is confident that there is still time to make a difference despite the council having said it will almost certainly close the school.

"Some people think the real decision has been made and that the consultation period is bogus but there is a legal process that they have to go through and we are determined to create as strong a campaign as possible," said Mr Wicks.

But Salt Way parent governor James King, who has a four-year-old son Joseph at the school, believes the campaigners will have a hard fight on their hands.

"At this late stage it will be very difficult for them to make a difference," he said.

"Already a lot of parents have decided to move their child to another school. And in September there will be 148 children on roll compared to 202 this year.

"I totally support what they are doing though.

"Salt Way is a fantastic school and if the can do anything to save it then that would be brilliant."

Diana Milne