If you live very locally to the school you are probably aware of the Witley Community Recycling Centre a few hundred yards away from us on the Petworth Road. There are plans to upgrade and extend it to make a modern recycling centre which will be easier to use and can accommodate more visitors.

Rodborough is proud of its growing green credentials. We have just received the Government's Eco School's Silver Award. We are recycling more and more materials and, behind the scenes, we have improved our energy efficiency by the replacement of light fittings, fitting more effective control panels on our heating and by turning off lights and computers. I am in favour of an enhanced community recycling centre. We are encouraging the next generation to re-use, rather than dispose of, every day items. They need and you need an efficient and accessible place to do it.

The proposals for the redevelopment of the site involve not only the extension of the site but also a change to the traffic flow. To avoid the frequent weekend queues on the Petworth Road, the new proposal is to take all site traffic down Rake Lane through a new entrance across the field, a bit further down the lane than the school entrance. Vehicles will leave the site via the Petworth Road. It is difficult to be in favour of this as it will increase (by 60% on some people's estimates) the traffic in Rake Lane past the front of the school.

Rodborough has been a leading light in Surrey County Council's Safer Routes to School initiative. We campaigned for the traffic hump and width restriction at the end of Rake Lane. They put them in the wrong place but we were keen that they were installed. We encourage students to cycle to school but are constantly concerned for their safety. We support the notion of students using the train but are repeatedly informed of "near miss" incidents in the lane. There are no pavements, and students and staff walk up and down the lane in poor light in the winter.

So am I in favour of the new Recycling Development? I am keen to avoid "not in my backyard" thinking but I think the safety of pupils to and from the school is paramount.

The proposal is going to planning very soon. I hope you will express your views to the right authority.