CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save a village school from closing have been handed a lifeline this week. Lanreath School is threatened with closure due to falling numbers, which Cornwall County Council says will drop to just 12 by September, 2008. However, a scheme to build around 30 affordable homes in the village could come to fruition in the next two years – attracting enough young families to live in the village and save the school from being closed, says local MP Colin Breed. And Mr Breed told residents they had his support when he met with them in the village on Monday. 'I can't fight for a school that is going to go down to 12 pupils, it is not an appropriate number to give them the best start they can get,' said the MP. 'But 20 or 25 pupils is a very good number, so we are not looking for a huge increase in pupils. Some of those will, hopefully, come from affordable housing.' Mr Breed urged campaigners to lobby local councillors to gain further support. He said the school was part of the 'lifeblood' of the village, and that it was important for the community to keep it. Vacated 'It would be the ultimate irony if the affordable housing was provided on the site vacated by the school,' he said. Christopher Lunn, Caradon's affordable housing manager, said the first eight homes would be under construction in Meadow Road by next April. Parent governor Julie Withers said locals would continue the fight during the summer holidays. She said: 'It would be awful to lose the school, but we are quietly optimistic.'
