SIR – There is a shortage of school places for children across Bradford, which has been highlighted in a number of T&A articles recently.

This situation clearly demonstrates the lack of foresight when it comes to the Labour Council’s judgement, and it’s future plans in the Local Development Framework.

In Baildon, one of the sites earmarked for 94 houses, in the Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment, is the former Ferniehurst Primary School.

I attended this school myself, and since its demolition, the surrounding area has lost a great deal of social capital. Other schools in Baildon have been forced to expand, reducing the size of school playing fields, and some residents have been refused places.

As a result of this poor judgement and policies, traffic problems have also increased. Residents here are forced to transport children to schools elsewhere, while parents from around the district are transporting their children here.

Any plan to increase housing on the scale being proposed must include sufficient infrastructure to support it, and be in place before further development takes place.

This should include, but not be limited to, transport networks, schools, emergency services, hospitals, and social care provision. Without this, we are seriously jeopardising the safety and welfare of people that live here.

So, for Baildon at least, let’s consider re-building the Ferniehurst School, instead of making this problem worse.

Ian Lyons, Liberal Democrat candidate,Cliffe Avenue, Baildon