THE Book of Proverbs tells us that "Where there is no vision, the people perish".

Nearly 40 years ago, the vision of a former and distinguished chief education officer of Worcestershire, John Brooke, caused the two centres at Llanrug (Snowdonia) and West Malvern to be established. Both were based on old school buildings, thriftily improved and economically managed.

Over the years they have offered, and continue to offer, basic accommodation and special, challenging activities now, when the present school curriculum is tightly constrained, and when, more than ever, children need to develop independence and enquiring minds outside the usual school environment.

Having survived the Callaghan and Thatcher "purges" of the 1970s and 1980s, both centres now face closure, at relatively short notice and a decision is to be made at the end of this month.

Both centres can, apparently, reorganise to reduce the amount of support they need from the county council, but it seems that a relatively modest level of continued support, for a short period, is needed to create the space for them to adjust to a situation where this support is fully withdrawn. Curiously, when, nationally there is increasing emphasis on the value of healthy outdoor activity and concern at obesity in our children, Worcestershire seems bent on removing facilities to meet such needs.

To allow the loss of either or both of these two, quite special and valuable, educational assets, both very difficult to replace, would be a grave error of educational and political judgement.

It is often said of our national politicians that they "Know the price of everything and the value of nothing?" (Oscar Wilde) but we must hope that our local politicians have greater wisdom. Surely, there remains the vision and imagination to keep both these centres available to the county's children and young people.

MICHAEL BURGESS (former education officer), Rhydd Road, Guarlford.