SILSDEN and Steeton teenagers could be affected by the refusal of plans to expand Ilkley Grammar School, claims a councillor.

Cllr Adrian Naylor believes Ilkley Grammar is the only secondary school suitable to provide places for an expected increase in children in the two villages.

He has called on the Government to provide cash to extend the Ilkley school before an influx of new houses are built across the Aire and Wharfe valleys.

The Government last month turned down eight Bradford district schools, including Ilkley Grammar, for major work as part of the second wave of its national Priority School Building Programme.

Silsden, Steeton and Eastburn have been earmarked for thousands of new houses over the next few years under Bradford Council’s development strategy.

Cllr Naylor, a Bradford and Silsden councillor, said said any available places at the other two nearest secondary schools, South Craven School and University Academy Keighley, would be needed for youngsters in thousands of new houses in their own areas.

He added: “The Government are unwilling to increase school provision or build a new school but they are asking us to take all these houses.”