Sport England objects to plans to demolish and rebuild four Bradford schools

The organisation is currently objecting to all four applications by the Department for Education (DfE) to replace ageing secondary schools across the district.

The DfE had submitted plans to demolish and rebuild Carlton Bolling College in Undercliffe, Samuel Lister Academy in Cottingley, Belle Vue Boys School in Heaton and Oakbank School in Keighley late last year, and a decision on all the plans will be made by Bradford Council in March.

But the projects have attracted criticism from some quarters, and now Sport England has raised concerns.

It is most critical about the Oakbank proposal. The school has a hockey pitch that is currently used by Airedale Hockey Club and Skipton Ladies Hockey Club. The plans will see that pitch unusable during the demolition and construction process, which Sport England estimates as being up to three years. Members of Airedale Hockey Club have already said the club may fold if a replacement is not found.

A submission by Sport England, said "A three year loss with no plans for an alternative temporary facility to meet match and training requirements of the users is unacceptable."

It also says that England Hockey has raised "serious concerns" about the situation, and that there are no pitches within 15 miles that could accommodate the club.

Unless the issue is dealt with, Sport England will object to the application.

Keighley MP Kris Hopkins has also raised concerns about the Oakbank plans, and plans to meet with the sports minister. I am delighted that a brand new £16 million school is to be built on the existing Oakbank site as part of the Government’s Priority School Building Programme.

"However, there is obviously going to be some understandable inconvenience during the construction phase. I want to explore what alternative provision may be arranged in advance of January 2016 when the diggers move in.”

Sport England is objecting to the Carlton Bolling plans because they include the loss of 2,069 square metres of playing field. At Samuel Lister Academy, the holding objection is due to the loss of a six court sports hall, which is being replaced by a hall with just four pitches, and a redgra pitch.

The Belle Vue Boys objection is due to the loss of 12,803 sqm of playing field All these issues have to be addressed for Sport England to reverse its objections.

Councillor Ralph Berry, head of Children's Services at the Council, said: "It shows a lack of joined up thinking by the government that different departments don't agree, and I would be very angry if this leads to a delay in these much needed new school facilities being built. They should have had all this sorted out much earlier."

A DofE spokesman said: "We are considering these concerns.”