A GROUP which has long objected to the loss of the 100-year-old foundation building at a Cleckheaton school has raised concerns that planning conditions surrounding its future demolition have not been met.

Spen Valley Civic Society argues that the original part of the Whitcliffe Mount School building, which dates back to 1910, should be saved and reused rather than knocked down as part of a wider scheme to provide a replacement modern school building at the site.

Contractors have almost completed work on the main teaching block next to the current school building and staff and pupils will transfer over in September. It is at this point that the old premises – the foundation building and later additions – is expected to be razed to the ground.

But the school has confirmed that developer Laing O’Rourke is expecting to complete a requirement to survey and record the building for historic and architectural purposes once the old building is officially handed over to them by the school.

A spokesman for the school said: “As the developer, Laing O’Rourke are responsible for satisfying all 26 conditions associated with planning approval.

“The school understands that a proposal and works to satisfy condition 26 relating to architectural recording of the foundation building will be brought forward once the building is handed over to the contractor.”

Thousands of people have also signed an 11th-hour petition to save the foundation building at the Turnsteads Avenue school site.

This follows an earlier campaign to save the school sports centre, which has now been demolished to make way for the new-build school.

Erica Amende, of Spen Valley Civic Society, told the Telegraph & Argus: “There’s a lot of strong feelings about the demolition of this building, particularly because the people of Cleckheaton contributed to the funds that helped build the school in the first place.

“We objected to the foundation building being demolished right from the start and did try and get it listed.

“But the plans were approved despite our objections.

“A condition was added that they record the building before it is demolished, and it has been confirmed to us that the developer hasn’t done this yet.”

She added that, once demolished, the site of the foundation building was to become a grass verge, so its demolition was not necessary and the building could be easily renovated and reused.

Hundreds of people attended an open day at the school earlier this month to have one last look around.