FOR too long Ilkley has lagged behind other areas of the district in terms of local authority nursery provision.

Just because Ilkley is a relatively affluent town it does not mean that Bradford Council's education service can turn its back our younger children.

For more than ten years locals have been campaigning to have local authority nurseries in Ilkley running alongside the private sector.

Earlier this year campaigners for pre-school space at the new All Saints Primary School site on Skipton Road were disappointed to learn that the cash was unlikely to be available.

Bradford Council was accused of wasting money on a survey among Ilkley parents last year because the results were not published and nothing came of it.

But now we discover that behind the scenes moves were afoot to create space for 26 pre-school places at Ashlands Primary School on Leeds Road.

It is part of Bradford's plan to provide free nursery places for all three and four-year-olds in the district from the year 2004.

It is good news all round and a lift for parents of young children in the area. State nurseries can provide levels of professionalism second to none and even in Ilkley there are hard-pressed families for whom free nursery places will be a Godsend.

The plan has been given the green light this week and now a consultation will begin with parents.

It has been a very long wait. Let's hope that we will not be waiting much longer before Ilkley children and parents receive a much-needed service.