THREE major multi-million pound school redevelopment projects throughout the Bradford district have attracted objections.

Plans to demolish four dated school buildings and re-build them were revealed by the Department for Education last month.

But one has attracted more than 100 objections over fears that the works could cause a hockey club to fold, and another has been criticised by an MP.

Four schools in the district will be re-built under the Government's priority schools building programme, and applications for all four projects have been lodged with Bradford Council.

The objections to the re-building of Oakbank School in Keighley mainly relate to the loss of hockey facilities during the over two year construction process.

Airedale Hockey Club, which has seven teams using the site, has flooded the Council with objections.

Its members fear the club will likely fold if it goes ahead, as the only hockey pitch in the area will be unusable during the works.

Meanwhile, Shipley MP Philip Davies has objected to the plan for Samuel Lister Academy in Cottingley, which will see the number of pupils at the school increased.

He said: "The current plans to increase the number of pupils from 600 to about 900 will compromise the only and limited access from Cottingley New Road to the school."

And staff at Chellow Heights Special School have objected to plans for Belle Vue Boys School, saying it will cause noise for the long construction period and also create traffic problems.

A Department for Education spokesman addressed the objections, saying: "The existing Oakbank school buildings are no longer fit for purpose and urgently need to be replaced.

"It is our priority to keep any disruption to education to an absolute minimum.

"We understand that the temporary loss of the hockey pitch is a concern for Airedale Hockey Club and we are discussing this with them.

"A new County sized hockey pitch is being built as part of the project, and the school is keen to continue to hire the facilities to the community."

Richard Stewart, of Airedale Hockey Club, has met representatives of the DfE, Oakbank School and the developers, and they are now working towards identifying and developing alternate sites.

However, he admitted that if site is not found, the club would likely have to fold.

On the Samuel Lister proposals, the DfE said: "Wider existing issues, including road works, are a matter for local councils. Additional car drop off facilities have been included in the new design."

And over concerns that the Belle Vue Boys, it pointed out that the bulk of the work will be done off site, and the school pieced together similar to a pre fabricated building.

Its spokesman said: "It is our priority to keep any disruption to education to an absolute minimum. Belle Vue Boys will predominantly be built off-site, which will reduce disruption."

A decision on the schools will be made in March.