CHURCH lawyers are looking into the ownership of two Otley schools.

It had been thought that All Saints Junior School - which will close under proposals now being considered by Leeds City Council - belonged to the Bradford Diocese.

But initial studies of the more than 100 year old deeds suggests ownership could be joint with the local education authority.

One of the points raised at last week's public meetings to discuss the controversial reorganisation of primary school places was who would benefit from the sale of surplus sites.

Eric Reed, the council's acting director of education, said any money from the sale of council owned sites would be used first in Otley - but he added that the North Parade school belonged to the church.

Now, Rachel Barker, strategic education advisor for the Bradford Diocese, said the deeds of both the North Parade school and All Saints Juniors, in Lisker Drive, were being studied.

"We are trying to find out who owns the sites, it could be they are owned jointly by the church and the LEA," she said.

She added that ownership was not straightforward and had been complicated because the church schools had occupied different buildings in Otley over the years.

Rev Graham Buttanshaw, vicar of All Saints Church, is currently asking people what input the church should have in schools in the town - and whether a voluntary aided church school would be welcomed.

"I would like to see what the interest in the community would be in having a voluntary aided church school and I would welcome feedback from people," he said.

Mr Buttanshaw added that he backed a longer consultation on the reorganisation - currently due to close in the middle of July.

Meanwhile, Adam Pritchard, Conservative Prospective Parliamentary Candidate For Leeds North West, has called for all the money gained from the sale of council owned sites to be kept in Otley and not to be distributed around Leeds.

At last Thursday's schools meeting at Prince Henry's Grammar School, he said: "I am concerned that any savings generated by this plan stay in Otley.

"Eric Reid was able to assure us that any capital receipts from the sale of the one school that the council can sell would be used to fund capital expenditure required by the plan. "

But he called for ongoing revenue savings built up over future years would also be retained in Otley.

After the meeting, Coun Clive Fox (Con, Otley and Wharfedale) said: "Adam's question was very important, it seems totally unfair that the council should put forward plans to close Otley Schools and then take back the administration savings that they will generate.

"Those savings could be used to enhance education in Otley by increasing funding per pupil."

l Under the Leeds City Council proposals, All Saints Infants, All Saints Junior, Thomas Chippendale Primary, Westgate Primary and Ashfield Infants schools will all close and will be replaced by three new primary schools on the sites of All Saints Infants, Ashfield Infants and Westgate Infants.

A report is due to go to the council's executive board in the middle of May when statutory notices will be published.

Another report will go to the board in the middle of August with any fresh objections with proposals brought into action in September 2002.