Our say; Evening Gazette.

A NEW multi-million pound investment plan for our schools comes as a major boost to the Tees Valley.

The pounds 90m earmarked for secondary schools in Redcar and Cleveland will lead to the kind of overhaul of the system that demands careful, considered thought.

But there is no doubt it will have a hugely positive impact on education for generations to come.

Following news of a pounds 150m boost for Stockton schools, the Government support for education across our area is proving to be substantial.

But it's not simply about investment in bricks and mortar.

It's about educational standards and style, opportunities for pupils and the wider community, and aspiring to grow and improve.

Some hard decisions might have to be made, and it's crucial that the views of pupils, parents, teachers and governors are heard.

But at the end of the day this has to be good news for the future.

It's a once-in-a-generation chance to make radical changes for the better, and one that must be grasped with both hands.

THE national award for Hemlington Lake is a tribute to the tremendous work that has gone on for years by volunteers.

The Friends of the Lake deserve the praise - and our thanks - for helping make this spot, which was blighted by vandals, a place to be truly proud of.