BARROWS Farm Riding School in Billinge is to close on April 1st, 2001. The reason: astronomical business rates have made the riding school a non-viable business!

At last we had something in Billinge for the kids to do. Barrows provides endless hours of pleasure to the local children, not only riding, but educating the stable girl and boys in livery skills, animal care and most of all teamwork. The farm provides a safe, clean and happy environment for the local youth. Yes, it is a business, but anyone who has been involved with horses knows that it is a labour of love, not profit.

What is to become of our children now? Rightly many of us condemn the sight of kids hanging around on street corners causing a nuisance. Well, the powers-that-be have an opportunity to do something about this by helping a business whose service to the local community is priceless. What will we have instead -- unsafe, unruly parks, scruffy "drop in centres". Personally I would like to see the children of the village getting exercise and fresh air at the same time as learning about responsibility.

I urge the children and parents of the area to contact local councillors, MPs and the press to do something about this devastating closure before it is too late.

D.Gilchrist

Billinge,near Wigan