Controversial plans to close ten special schools have been shelved until after the local elections.

Councillors had been due to debate the plan, with proposals for six new special schools, next Tuesday. Voters go to the polls on May 1 when a third of the district's councillors are up for re-election.

The proposals must now wait for a debate by the new council's ruling Executive on Tuesday, June 10. Councillors will be asked to approve a period of public consultation.

The closures are part of changes to the education of children with special needs, being brought in by Education Bradford. It is concerned that many of the special school buildings are in a poor state. It also favours having fewer but larger schools that focus on primary or secondary children.

The proposals are to close ten out of 12 of the special schools, replacing them with six larger ones, three for primary age and three for secondary pupils.

Temple Bank School for blind children has been recommended for closure while Thorn Park School for deaf youngsters has so far survived the shake-up.

Education Bradford insists views of parents and teachers have been canvassed and that people welcome the changes as they are an opportunity to provide better facilities.

But today David Jones, the chairman of governors at one of the schools, Greenfield in Idle, said he was unhappy as he had not yet been provided with enough information.

Mr Jones, who has two sons with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD), said: "The first I heard about this was when I read about it in the Telegraph & Argus. Governing bodies were not consulted. I am concerned that there is not enough information."

Today Councillor David Ward, executive member for education, said delaying the decision by councillors meant a longer breathing space for more discussion.

"Between now and June there will be a period of talking to people, although not official consultation, that will come later after the Executive meeting," he said.

A report on the services for autistic youngsters would be available at the end of March as well as a Government decision on private finance initiative (PFI) cash for Bradford school buildings.

A spokesman for Education Bradford said: "We have agreed with the Council to have further discussion with interested parties and to have a formal consultation, if possible, in the summer term. The DfES has still not informed us about the outcome of the Private Finance Initiative bid. "

The proposals are to close ten schools: Bolling, Haycliffe, Netherlands Avenue, Lister Lane and Wedgwood in Bradford; Chapel Grange at Allerton; Greenfield at Idle; Heaton Royds at Shipley and Braithwaite and Branshaw schools in Keighley.

Six new ones would open, paid for through PFI. Secondary pupils would go to one of three new schools 'co-located' with Grange Technology College, Great Horton; Beckfoot School, Bingley and Greenhead High, Keighley. Primary pupils would go to new schools 'co-located' with Lapage and Bradford Moor Primary, Crossflatts Primary and a third yet to be announced.