Wiltshire County Council is about to cut its provision for nursery education. This is because of a double blunder by the education department.

Firstly they underestimated demand for the scheme, and more significantly their population estimates have, in their words, been "revised upwards" over the last year.

The significance is that these same figures were used in the misguided decision not to accept the offer of a site at Green Lane Trowbridge for a new secondary school, but to expand the already cramped existing schools.

County accept they may need a new school soon after 2011, but once the Green Lane site is lost to yet more housing, it would be difficult and very expensive to find another suitable site in the Paxcroft Mead area.

Although this matter was recently considered at the District Plan enquiry I'm not optimistic about the outcome, because the Inspector was adamant he could not question County's decision, nor could he look beyond 2011 an absurdly short timescale when looking at school provision.

After all, the same children whose nursery education is being jeopardised now will be looking for a secondary school about then.

If the county used the revised figures as a face-saving way of changing its mind this site could still be saved. If not, the site will go for housing and this particular battle, sadly, will be lost.

Trevor Carbin,

Church Street,

Hilperton.