A PETITION containing 1,367 signatures of people objecting to the possible closure of Totton's Calmore Infant School has been handed to New Forest East MP Doctor Julian Lewis.

The school is one of several along the eastern edge of the New Forest which are under review by Hampshire County Council's education chiefs because of decreasing pupil numbers.

The review could result in schools being merged with others nearby and the two possible options for Calmore Infant are an amalgamation with Calmore Junior and keeping it open and increasing the early years activities on its site.

The early years involvement there at present involves the Caterpillars pre-school in two classrooms, Totton Opportunity Pre-School (Tops) for children with learning difficulties and the early education childcare unit which serves Totton and the Waterside area.

"What we would want to do is encourage the county council to further develop the early years activities. The petition makes it clear that we are against the closure of the school," said Calmore Infant School's deputy chairman of governors Bruce Wade.

He also pointed out that at the school's last inspection in October 2000, Ofsted commented that children joining the school had below average attainment in both social skills and language development.

"This confirmed the need for increased support for pre-school children and their parents. The governors are committed to improving these facilities in the Calmore area by building on the provision that we have already set up at Calmore Infant School," he added.

Doctor Lewis said: "I am far from convinced that the closure or amalgamation of schools on the Waterside is necessary or appropriate. I am taking this matter up with the county council and expect to have serious discussions with them in the weeks and months ahead.

"It seems to me absolute madness to close successful schools which are giving a good education to the children of our community, whatever bureaucratic formulae may suggest."

In addition to Totton, schools in the Hythe, Holbury, Blackfield and Fawley areas are all being looked at because of falling rolls and the county is facing a storm of opposition to any closure.