Ilkley'S Civic Society fears Bradford Council's school review could leave the town with an environmental headache.

The society's concerns are not education-based, more the future use of school sites.

The vice-chairman of the society, Helen Kidman, has written to councillor Jim Flood, urging Bradford's education committee to take on board members' concerns.

She said: "At present it would appear that the sites of Ilkley Middle School, All Saints First School, Bolling Road school field, land next to Ashlands First School and the earmarked school site on Skipton Road, might all, subject to changes in the plans, be made available for housing or other development."

The society is worried that apart from the fact that additional housing will boost school numbers, the last green spaces in the Ilkley 'suburbs' could disappear and the pressure to maximise land values for the council will lead to very dense housing development.

"It is not clear whether such an increase in numbers, together with provision for additional children as a result of the development at the Middleton Hospital site, have been taken into account," she said.

Ilkley Civic Society also wants councillors to examine the transport implications of the review.

Members believe the plans have been drawn up with little concern to place new primary schools centrally with the catchment area, minimising school car journeys.

Access on foot using safe routes should be an important factor in locating the new schools.

l Bradford councillors will examine the recommendations of the school review team next week.

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