THE Deaf Community in the Warrington and surrounding areas is deeply saddened by the recent death of their champion' Alan Barlow.

Alan had worked tirelessly to address the lack of help, support and amenities that are available to the deaf and hard of hearing.

No doubt, if he was still alive today he would be putting on the boxing gloves and getting ready to spar with Warrington Collegiate.

The collegiate will not be offering daytime classes for students to learn British Sign Language.

From September the number of classes has been reduced by 50 per cent.

Whoever agreed to cut back on these classes has obviously not done any research as these programmes have become more and more popular.

People who are deaf or hard of hearing face many challenges.

Alan had done so much to ensure people with impaired hearing faced their disabilities and he encouraged them to integrate in the hearing world.

Many people with a hearing disability cannot speak well and some are totally dependent on sign language to communicate.

Warrington Collegiate has now created a barrier preventing the deaf from communicating with the hearing world.

As enrolment for the September programmes is imminent may we suggest the collegiate re-thinks its strategies and reinstates the daytime classes?

KATH JOWETT and KATE RIGBY Woolston