RESIDENTS protesting about plans for an education centre and children's home on the site of a former Bradford Council-run care home in Wibsey have set up an action group.

It follows plans submitted last month by a company which specialises in providing care for children with significant educational needs.

Witherslack Group has bought the site of the former Harbourne care home, a Council-run centre for the elderly in Wibsey, which was closed down earlier this year.

The company plans to create an integrated therapeutic learning centre for 14 young people on the site, converting part of the care home building and then building two separate children's homes on the same site.

It specialises in dealing with young people who have emotional and mental health needs, communication difficulties such as autistic spectrum conditions, Asperger's Syndrome and other complex learning needs.

The plans involve the children, aged from eight upwards, living at the homes on the site and being taught on the complex too.

Residents opposing the scheme say there is some confusion over the types of students to attend the school and are concerned that as a result the 24-hour nature of the educational facility could lead to an increase in noise levels.

One of the protesters Mark Britton, who lives on nearby Brearcliffe Street, told the Telegraph & Argus: "Many residents feel there were conflicting statements and some uncertainty on the types of students who would be attending the school.

"Originally residents were under the impression that the students had disabilities and learning difficulties.

"It has now become a concern that the students may come from high risk backgrounds and may have behavioural issues."

However, Judith Jones, commercial director of Witherslack Group told the Telegraph & Argus: "We are used to it when we plan to open a facility for neighbours to be a little concerned but once they are open those concerns tend to drop off."

"We are incredibly proud of what we do. The plans in Wibsey are for an integrated therapeutic provision for children who require highly-specialised care and education.

"These are young people, generally speaking, who have had quite a difficult start to life and need some stability."

She added that the company did not deal with emergency placements and that the children referred there did not require secure accommodation.

She also said she was happy for representatives from the action group to visit other similar facilities they run and speak to those living nearby for reassurance.

The planning application is expected to be decided by Bradford Council next month. No change of use application is required as the existing C2 planning category covering a residential care home, is the same for a children's home.