to keep the school for primary students to Parliament.

During a Press conference at the Angle Street property yesterday, Progressive Labour Party MPs Mr. David Allen and Mr. Stanley Morton stressed that they supported parents' campaign to have Government reverse its decision to move Dellwood Primary to Northlands Secondary School site in 1997.

Dellwood parents have suggested that Government: Use the old Technical Institute building for Northlands middle school; Use part of the US Naval Annex and Canadian bases for National Sports Centre facilities; and Complete work, including the track and changing rooms, at the national stadium which can be used by students at the proposed middle and senior secondary schools, and other athletes.

"We have no doubts in our minds as to the validity and soundness of the Dellwood PTA's case to have the school remain at the present site,'' Mr. Allen said.

"One of the reasons we have called this Press conference on the actual school grounds is to particularly emphasise anew just how suitable this location is for educating children at the sensitive and active primary age level.

"Aside from the sub-standard nature of the facilities at the Northlands School site -- which led Government's own committee to recommend its permanent closure in 1989 after years of complaints from Northlands' own parents -- the compressed, high-density and traffic-ridden nature of that site is particularly unsuitable for young primary-age children.

"By contrast, the spacious, park-like environment of the present Dellwood site is ideal, particularly when one recognises that many of the students live in Pembroke East Central and Pembroke East constituencies that have very high density housing and very little open space and playground area. Children at this hyperactive age need such space in which to breathe and play.'' Mr. Allen also noted that the Dellwood site was not suitable for students of the middle school age.

"Unlike primary-age students,'' he said, "they are not easily kept in a controlled environment, and are far more vulnerable to certain negative influences found within a two-to-three-block radius of the school.'' Students of middle-school age were far more likely to wander off the premises during the lunch hour and other breaks, Mr. Allen added.

"This,'' he said, "is one of the reasons we agree with the Dellwood PTA that the former Technical Institute buildings and grounds in Prospect -- which Government itself originally targetted as a central middle school site -- are better suited for a middle school. The buildings will also need far less costly remodelling at taxpayers' expense.'' Mr. Morton said the PLP will elaborate on that point during the Parliamentary budget debate.

"The parents have examined this from an economic view,'' he added. "It is less expensive to turn the Technical Institute into a middle school than it is to convert Northlands.'' Both Mr. Morton and Mr. Allen met with Dellwood parents at the old Technical building last Thursday to demonstrate how feasible that site would be for a middle school.

Mr. Morton also noted that the Education Department was looking for a site for its headquarters.

"The Northlands site is ideal for offices,'' he said. "They should consider it. If not, they should explain why not.''