MP Chris Leslie has spoken out over fears that Shipley East will become an education wilderness if a new secondary school is built at Thackley instead of Windhill.

The Shipley MP says a new-build secondary should go up on the site of the current Woodend Middle School, which is set to close as part of Bradford's switch to a two-tier education system.

But last week the Telegraph & Argus revealed that Woodend Middle and Eccleshill Upper schools could be axed if the Council opts to build a new secondary - demanded by residents to cope with new homes in the area - on the Cote Farm site in Thackley.

Mr Leslie said there were plenty of children in the Shipley East area to justify a secondary school, adding that having one located in Thackley would leave youngsters from Windhill, Wrose and Bolton Woods with much further to travel to and from classes.

He said: "I would be extremely upset if the needs and disadvantages of the Windhill and Shipley East areas are overlooked and we can't get a new-build secondary school on the Woodend Middle School site.

"It's entirely feasible for a new school to be built and there's been no feasibility study to the contrary.

"The hard evidence and facts point to a perfectly good case for Shipley East and I strongly urge the local education authority to think again about this.''

Stan McGlenn, vice-chairman of governors at Woodend, said: ''I fear we're going to lose this school and I'm very sad about that. I think we are a bit neglected in this area and now we may lose another focal point for the community, which would be tragic.''

Norman Free, another governor of the school, said that even if a new school was built at Thackley to replace Eccleshill Upper, there would still be a need for a new one in Windhill.

But Bradford's education chairman, Councillor Jim Flood, said although the Council's original proposal was for a new school at Woodend and a continuation of education at Eccleshill Upper, an alternative proposal had been put forward and that was being explored.

He said no decision had yet been taken.

"It's a proposal we've looked at and think is worth exploring. But as it's a departure from our original proposals we want to hear the public's views in each of the localities affected,'' he added.

Councillor Flood added that there would probably not be scope for a new school at Thackley as well as one at Woodend.

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