What future for Churchstanton School - your views count

I AM carrying out a public opinion survey in Churchinford and the surrounding area to ask what people think about the future siting of the village school.
I hope nobody misunderstands this message and that they do not think I am suggesting the school is under any threat at the moment.
It is an excellent small, rural school serving a wide catchment area from its idyllic location and engendering passionate support from parents and other local people.
Yet, we stand at a crossroads regarding its future.
Somerset County Council has started closing small schools such as in Blagdon Hill and in Nynehead to save money, and we know that other schools are under threat.
We currently face a situation where the county will not commit the funding Churchstanton needs in the long-term for permanent facilities because it does not believe the site is sustainable in the long-term future.
At the same time, an opportunity to develop a state-of-the-art new school in Churchinford village centre has been on offer, but this could soon be lost.
Developers who have planning permission to build some new homes on the Newberry Farm land could facilitate such a new school at comparatively low cost.
The wider benefits would be greater footfall in the village, bringing new vitality and financial support for facilities such as the shop, Post Office, and pub.
But there is a strong feeling the school’s magnificent rural site offers extra-curricular benefits to children and should not be given up until it really does have to happen - although by then the parish could lose its school completely if funding for a new one was not available.
There has never been a proper public consultation on what people really think about this subject.
It has divided opinions among the parish councillors and it has already generated heated discussion at a public meeting.
As the Conservative candidate for Blackdown and Wellington East in the Somerset County Council elections, I want to hear your views in a calm and collected manner.
I will then be best-placed to represent the wishes of the community once elected to County Hall, as opposed to allowing the wishes of finance-driven officials to decide the issue.
Some survey forms are being delivered door to door, and some have been placed in the village shop. A straw poll is also being held here on my website.
I strongly believe in the value of rural facilities and services, rather than looking only at their cost.
I have a track record of supporting rural schools, as I was the only local councillor to actually stand up against the closure of Blagdon Hill School, support the staff and governors, and attend the County Executive meetings where the Lib Dems made their decisions.
In Churchinford, I opposed the Post Office closure and also served on the voluntary committee which set up the Community Interest Company to create a new community shop.
Whether or not I am elected to the County Council on June 4, I will make sure that the views which come out of this survey are made known to the powers that be.
After reading my survey form, the school’s headmaster, Simon Mills, has voiced his concern to me that some parents may misread it as suggesting that the school is at risk of being closed, and he is naturally anxious to allay any such concerns.
That is why I am also separately writing letters to parents at the school to reassure them that I am not suggesting there is any immediate concern which should alarm them.

• The photograph above shows John Thorne outside Churchstanton School.